“Sometimes, all the stars line up perfectly. On this night, thats just what happened with the Tigers Armando Galarraga.
Every no hitter or perfect game has a special moment. In this case, enter Austin Jackson in the 9th inning. Running deep into the gap in left center field to make a spectacular catch. One out!
The next batter, a soft ground out! Two out!
That leaves it up to Jason Donald. A ball hit in the hole, and Cabrera goes to his right, throws it to Galarraga who’s covering the bag, ballgame! He got him by a half a step!
Oh, I forgot to mention, the first base umpire Jim Joyce called him safe.” -via detroitsportsnation.com
As a sports fan and Michigan resident I am no stranger to bad calls. Every team in every sport has had them and when they happen in games that really matter – final seconds of a playoff, last play in OT or in this case in a game that would have been perfect – well, it is heart wrenching.
Poor Jim Joyce. Here is a man who had quietly built a solid career for years. There were no scandals, no protests calling for his firing. He made a mistake, a big one and now his career is being measured by one fault. How many have had years of hard work erased by a single error, a bad call? How many have quietly built a career of proven successes only to receive the spotlight when they blow it?
And how many can relate to Armando a player who worked hard, stepped to the plate and pitched a perfect game only to lose his rightful recognition because of the call of someone in authority?
We all have the potential to be the umpire or the player. We can allow one call to change our destiny or we can like Jim, admit our mistake and get back in the game, and like Armando dust it off and step up to the plate persevering to repeat our success.
Posted via web from Marketing, Musings and More from Karen Swim
Karen Swim says
Brad, what could have just been another bitter sports story has truly proved to be remarkable. You are right both Jim Joyce and Armando demonstrated amazing sportsmanship. I teared up watching Joyce before last night’s game. This is truly what real sports is all about!
Brad Shorr says
Karen, The story is getting huge play on Chicago sports radio. I’ve been listening, and it’s a pretty amazing story. The consensus is the character of all the participants turned a horrible story into a case study in sportsmanship. I heard the tape of Jim Leland praising the Detroit fans – it really choked me up. Joyce refused to take a vacation day today and is going to be calling balls and strikes. We need more stories like this in sports. Everybody – the pitcher, the ump, the fans, the manager, the city of Detroit – are heroes in this story.
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Simple Sentences – When and How to Eliminate Colons, Part 2 =-.