From the Bleachers: September 21 – October 5, 2011

The difference between a team that was defeated and a team defeating itself.

No matter how you look at defeat, it is still just another loss.  But when a talented team loses a game to their own blunders its not only sad its maddening. Yet it happens all the time. Just look at the many upsets throughout professional sports history.

One that comes to mind, since the MLB Playoffs are just around the corner, happened 25 years ago at Shea Stadium in the 1986 World Series. The first basemen of the visiting Boston Red Sox missed a ground ball that hopped between his legs and the Mets went on to win the series.  His name of course, was Bill Buckner.

I’m not going to rant, “how can he miss that” or “he is an idiot” but what if he did make the play? It could have changed the entire shape of the Red Sox organization?

Besides fundamental errors, the players demeanor has a lot to do with the success of the team.

Carlos Zambrano is a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Throughout his career he has been pretty successful.  Throughout his 10-year career, he has complied 125 wins and a 3.60 ERA.

Although his statistics have been impressive, his demeanor has not been. Zambrano has a temper.

In 2010 after getting ejected for arguing a call with the home plate umpire he threw the ball in the stands, threw his gloves on the ground and started wailing on the Gatorade coolers iwith a ball bat like he was a member of Capone’s gang.

I am not upset with the fact he was angry, we all get angry. But when you make a fool out of yourself on national television for throwing a temper tantrum like a 5-year-old, how do you face your fans or look the organization you work for in the eye?

Here at City College, demeanor is important too.

While the football team has been extremely successful only losing one game in the last 13, the team was fifth last year in penalty yards, 1,082.

In their last game against Mendocino College, never mind the fact that they dismantled their opponent, 66-0, they finished with 13 penalties for 169 yards.

Granted that some were cheap calls but some were late hits or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties where the players either made comments or gestures toward the other team. Why do that? To show they are tougher? The scoreboard shows that.

City College has been an impressive football team, but to be unbeatable you should win with dignity and class.

People give me hell for being a Duke basketball fan. I like them because they have class. And to be the best, you have to be an example.

To quote John Wooden once more.

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”