Once in a Blue Moon

Yes, Once in a Blue Moon … that’s how often we’re exposed to anything positive in today’s news media. Ironically, we need good news more today than ever before. We all have enough negativity to deal with everyday.

I recently had a Facebook Friend send me an article from ESPN.com. The story grabbed me from the opening line as it revealed an unusual narrative which could easily be transformed into a television special. It was written by Rick Reilly who has been voted National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times! You’ll soon see why he rates this honor.

Rick shares the true story of a softball game between two junior varsity girls team that couldn’t be more mismatched! One team hadn’t lost a game in 2½ years, and they performed together like a well-oiled machine. The other team, believe it or not, consisted of 16 players who had never played the game before and were led by a coach who had never even seen a game before! It was easy to imagine how this game might play out.

However, destiny can sometimes be deceiving. After an inning and a half, it was quite obvious that this game was going to be nothing more than a lopsided debacle and a major humiliation for 16 inexperienced young athletes.

Ironically, at this point, a story unfolds which redefines sportsmanship in a way which no one could ever expect. Players, coaches, parents, fans, a Reebok rep, and an entire community joined forces to change the lives of everyone involved! I’ll let Rick share the unbelievable details by sharing his article.

This story should be shared with athletes, parents and coaches from coast to coast as a tribute to positive consequences of a dying art—true sportsmanship! Read it, share it and remember that there ARE good stories to be shared … even if they only appear “Once in a Blue Moon!”

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services.