NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — For those who follow Razorback baseball, 2010 may turn out to a special year. At last count, they had already won 31 games and were ranked anywhere from fourth to ninth nationally in the various collegiate polls.
They currently lead the SEC West by one game over the defending national NCAA champion LSU Tigers and they lead the entire SEC overall as well.
The Hogs have had a time settling in on a regular rotation. They had previously settled on Drew Smyley and Brett Eibner as being their first two starters with their third regular starting pitcher up in the air. The Hogs’ coach Dave Van Horn thought he had finally found his man as a heralded in-state freshman was given a shot at the position. The young hurler came through big time, leading the Hogs to a third game sweep of Mississippi State with a masterful pitching job.
For a freshman to crack the starting rotation of a major collegiate team coming off a College World Series appearance with hopes for even higher acclaim this year must have been like a dream come true. This rookie pitcher was so happy and excited, he decided to throw down a few beers to celebrate his good fortune. Unfortunately, his doing so led to his being arrested a few hours later for public intoxication and being an underaged drinker.
All the hard work expended and glory attained evaporated like morning moisture on the asphalt as he was immediately suspended from the team.
After facing his father in a private meeting the day after, the lad had to face the wrath of a coach who realized that he had placed his trust in someone who in his words was “immature and needed to grow up.”
If they had a Hall ofShame for all the young athletes who have wrecked themselves on the rocks of substance abuse, it would probably take a lot of construction to get the building big enough to hold all the “honorees.” Hardly a month goes by without an athlete for some team making a headline for getting busted for drugs or alcohol. Every time it happens, folks who know the individuals just have to ask “why?” Why do athletes have to celebrate something good by doing something that could just destroy the very thing that they were celebrating?
In the athletic system I grew up in, we had a head coach who had a simple rule. Get caught with drugs or alcohol and you were hit with a lifetime ban from participating in high school sports at his school. A few boys tested the rule, all got permanent bans and a couple of them were all-staters.
I have had folks tell me, “Wow, wasn’t that kind of overly tough?” Well, after a couple of stars got the boot, the problem didn’t come up again while this particular coach was in place. I think it can be safely assumed that there were several kids who might have turned back from making some bad decisions because of their fear of getting caught and paying a steep penalty. I do think there are kids all over who make bad decisions who think that evenif caught, they would still get a second and maybe even third chance and so they feel little deterred.
Personally, I think a little more tough love could do wonders for young athletes in today’s society.
Now, about that honesty thing
In this past weekend’s Verizon PGA golfing championship, the final hole was played with Jim Furyk and Brian Davis finishing tied for the top spot, a spot which came with a one million dollar prize.
On the extra playoff hole, Davis was stroking his ball out of a hazards area and on his backswing, his club grazed a reed growing near the spot where his ball was.
No one saw it happen but Davis thought he felt or heard it happen and he immediately reported it to the officials who then reviewed the videotape close up.
My first thought was “so what?” but I learned that there is a rule in golf (I don’t play) that your backswing cannot touch anything after it strikes the ball. If it does, there is a two stroke penalty assessed.
No one saw Davis “graze” the reed and had he not reported it, he would have won his first PGA championship. His honesty gave his opponent Furyk the championship and the extra $400,000 in prize money.
When it happened, Davis immediately reported it. He didn’t stop and think about it or stop to weigh his options, he just reflexively did the right thing.
I know I will be a Davis fan in the future.
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John McGee is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The TIMES. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].
Sports, Pages 8 on 04/21/2010