Good Sportsmanship Stories?

Remember that story of the high school runner who breaks her leg in a Cross Country meet and crawls to the finish?

Here’s another similar story from ESPN.

Game tied 0-0 between small colleges in a women’s softball. With two base runners on, part-time starter Senior Sara Tucholsky hits her first HR of her college career. She misses 1st base so she turns around to tag it but her knee gives out and she can’t walk another step.

The rules were interpreted by the Umpires that she couldn’t be touched by her teammates (automatic out… remember Dorando Pietri at the 1908 Olympics marathon?).

If she was replaced, it would be ruled a 2 Run (2 RBI) single, and the pinch runner would take her place at first base, the last base she touched.

The coach was going to replace her, as they really had no choice, but the opposing team asks the Umpires if they could carry her around the bases instead. The umps had a meeting and decided, sure why not? So two members of the opposing team pick up and help her touch the rest of the bases.

For full story and picture, go to ESPN

Memories of Eugene Monti

This story sort of reminds me of Eugenio Monti at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. He gave his bolt from his own sled to the British 2 man team, who eventually won the Gold.

Monti also help Vic Emery’s Canadian 4 man team repair their own sled, who also won Gold.

This act of sportsmanship left Monti with 2 bronzes. (Monti won 2 silvers at the 1956 Games in Cortina, and the 1960 Games didn’t contest the Boblsled)

Monti quoted, “(The British Team) Nash didn’t win because I gave him the bolt. He won because he had the fastest run”.

Monti eventually won 2 Golds at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble at age 40!