This is what it’s all about.  This is the true spirit of what I wish my Good Sport blog to be.  Armando Galarraga is a good sport.  Umpire Jim Joyce is blind, but he’s a good sport too.  “I just cost that kid a perfect game,” he said after the worst call at absolutely the worst time. 

The scenario, Tigers’ Pitcher Armando Galarraga was down to his last out in a perfect game.  Watch the video and you will totally understand what I’m talking about. 

Kirthmon Dozier/Detroit Free Press

Shortly after the game umpire Jim Joyce asked to speak to Galarraga.  Below is the account from The Detroit Free Press.  

Galarraga said Joyce told him, “I’m so sorry in my heart. I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I told him, ‘Nobody’s perfect,’ ” Galarraga said. “What am I going to say?”

Galarraga said that — “nobody’s perfect” — without any irony or sarcasm with a smile as big as a prom queen’s.

I can’t think of a classier ending to what was an awful incident.  Both men truly gave us a teachable moment.

Courtesy: Times Online

Fearless on the course, Tiger is a gutless fraud off of it.  He shagged more women than the ballpicker at the range.  Okay maybe not that many, but you get the point.  Now he’s ready to come forward after being silent and practically invisible for two and-a-half months, with an explanation and an apology of sorts for his behavior.  But once again, it’s all about him and controlling the message.

He’s called a news conference for Friday morning at PGA Tour Headquarters.  To call it a news conference is not accurate.  News conferences involve questions and answers with the news media.  Tiger’s ”thing”, we’re told, involves a statement from him, in front of a select group of friends, colleagues and selected media, with a single pool camera.  What exactly are “selected media” anyway?

If he’s truly sorry, and truly intent on winning back the forgiveness of his wife, family, friends and his legions of fans; he ought to be man enough to make himself vulnerable.  He ought to answer the questions any true journalist–not selected patsies, would ask of an icon who let a lot of people down.  Tiger doesn’t have the golf balls to do it.  He’s taking the easy way out.  That’s why he’s a chicken.

Photo: Courtesy Associated Press & Wade Payne

A simple wave like this will win you friends.  Another gesture with a selected finger will bring you scorn.  Not too long ago I wrote about the lame apologies from ill-behaving famous people.  All too often they rationalize their poor behavior with boilerplate language akin to “getting caught up in the moment” and stuff along those lines.  Not that I condone anyone giving the finger, but I think Tennessee Titans’ owner Bud Adams gives us a teachable moment with how to apologize better, especially when you’re clearly caught in the act.  Boy was he ever caught in the act. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTxHuUGG_2c&feature=player_embedded

“I need to apologize for my actions yesterday near the end of the game. I got caught up in the excitement of a great day, but I do realize that those types of things shouldn’t happen. I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL.

“I obviously have a great deal of respect for [Bills owner] Ralph Wilson and the history we have shared. I also understand there will probably be league discipline for my actions and I will accept those.”

Now that’s my kind of guy.  I forgive him because he cleary admitted he screwed up.  It’ll cost him $250,000.  He can afford it.   How would you respond to to an 86-year-old man flipping you off?

click here to see video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAtxuCpsMU&feature=related

Did you see that video of a college soccer player viciously pulling an opponent’s ponytail?  It’s brutal.  But so too are the tired apologies of athletes who screw up and either conciously, or unconciously rationalize the act in the act of contrition.

Is there a boilerplate for how to say you’re sorry?  I think so because I’m hearing the same line or buzz words in almost every apology.  “In the heat of battle… I let my emotions get the best of me…” 

Here’s University of New Mexico’s Elizabeth Lambert’s apology,  “My actions were uncalled for.  I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation.”

Click here for Serena Williams outburst:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO_jlXjgxN8

After Serena Williams’ infamous U.S. Open meltdown and match forfeiture she said,  “Last night everyone could truly see the passion I have for my job. Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don’t agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.”

See where I’m going here?  My emotions got the best of me, the better of me, heat of something… blah, blah, blah.  There are many more examples but I think you get the point.

Don’t try to rationalize what any rational person can see is irrational behavior, you’re only diluting the value of the apology.  Mess up, fess up; wholly and completey. 

Sorry to dump on you, but this has been bothering me for a while.  Thanks for letting me vent.  Do you have an apology story to share, or want to make an apology of your own?  Have at it below.