Tunney side of sports

Tunney Side of Sports      Up Next..."Ya Gotta Finish!" September 16, 2013 #454 On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS September 16, 2013 #454 Up next..."Ya Gotta Finish"!     After further review...Fourth quarter of the NFL's season opener between Denver and Baltimore: Broncos second-year linebacker Danny Trevathan angles underneath Ravens Ray Rice on a short out pattern, cleanly plucks Joe Flacco's pass at the 30, and scampers untouched into the end zone. A touchdown gives the Broncos an almost insurmountable lead, but Trevathan casually drops the ball just short of the goal line. The resulting " fumble" travels out of the end zone for a touchback and the Ravens are back in business on their own 20. Hey, Danny! Ya gotta finish the play! Questions abound: first and foremost, what was Trevathan thinking? Further, if you're his coach, what disciplinary action, if any, would you take? Trevathan's response to that first question was "I thought I had crossed the goal line?" Really? Not that Danny ever noticed, or measured, but NFL yard lines are 4 inches wide while the goal line stretches to 8 inches! Granted the ball need only break the plane of the goal line's inside edge, but how much attention, key word, did he give to making sure he was fully in the end zone? The man-on-the-street's perception is that Trevathan was so excited about his interception and effortless TD that he began celebrating before the fact of the score. Ya gotta finish! This raised the important question of how would you, as coach (or teacher or parent) would deal with disciplining your player/student/child? Would you take the "I-got-the-hammer-and-you're-the-nail approach? This writer believes a better approach is helping the person to not repeat the offense. What thought can be instilled to help your young student/athlete remember to complete the task? "Finish the job!" is a usable mantra. Plant the seed that will help the other person grow. The following verse might also come in handy, when personal glory jeopardizes the team's success:   Sometime when you're feeling important, Sometime when your ego's inbloom, Sometime when you take it for granted You're the best qualified in the room, Sometime when you feel that your going Would leave an unfillable hole, Just follow this simple example And see how it humbles your soul. Take a bucket and fill it with water Put your hand in it up to the wrist, Pull it out and the hole that's remaining Is a measure of how you'll be missed! Be proud of yourself, but remember there's no indispensable person!        Will you put "finish what you start" in your mind-set? To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email him at jim@jimtunney.com.