Opinion – Judy Harris: The essence of a champion — it’s all in how people are treated

“To be a champion requires more than being a strong player, one has to be a strong human being as well.” Antoly Karpov

An alumni game was included these past weeks as the Thomas More Saints played a round of fall games. I was remembering a most thrilling softball game of several years ago when these alums were on the team.

It was a glorious day for a Saints softball double-header in this conference match-up.

As the first game played out, we found ourselves in the bottom of the final inning, Opponent 9, Saints 5. There was one more run for us (9-6) and then the Saints loaded the bases! Whoo-Hoo!

One of our known home run hitters was up. She had recovered from injuries that plagued the whole team recently.

She hit the ball hard, and we watched it fly over the centerfield fence. Whoo-Hoo! A Walk-Off Grand Slam. We’d won the game in splendid fashion. Thrilling.

But then as runners rounded the bases and headed for home, our slugger headed for second and something happened. She started limping and it just wasn’t a limp; she was hurting badly.

Her teammates quickly realized something was wrong just as two of the opponents immediately put themselves under each of her arms and helped her touch second, hobble assisted to touch third, and finally reach home plate.

We were all in awe of what we just watched.

Was it the wonderful Grand Slam?

Just briefly.

The Grand Slam became secondary as two conference opponents who had just lost a game in the final inning were helping that opponent collect her bases.

Everyone knew that this was collegiate sport at its very, very best.

Our Saint was a most grateful hobbler. As she reached home base and her teammates, the two opponents disappeared.

Each of us realized we had seen the essence of champions in how these teams treat each other and their opponents. That it wasn’t the win or the Walk-Off Grand Slam or the loss that mattered most.

It was and is how people are treated, even someone who just delivered a stunning loss.

Judy Harris is well established in Northern Kentucky life, as a longtime elementary and university educator. A graduate of Thomas More, she began her career there in 1980 where she played a key role in teacher education and introduced students to national and international travel experiences. She has traveled and studied extensively abroad. She enjoys retirement yet stays in daily contact with university students.

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