Unexpected Leadership

My wife had just viewed a video and could not wait to share it with me.  It was a video about a female college softball player who had never hit a home run in a game . . .that was until one special day against her team’s conference rival.  In a game her team needed to stay in the hunt for a championship, she came up to bat with 2 players on base. With one mighty swing she hit the ball farther than she ever had and she looked up in time to see the ball go over the fence. In her excitement, she missed touching first base and quickly turned back to touch it. Her sudden pivot back toward first proved to be too much for her knee and with a torn ACL, she collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain.

As the runners came around and touched home plate celebrating, she still was on the ground.  It became clear that although she had hit a home run, she would not receive credit unless she circled the bases.  Her team could not help her in any way, because the rules state that she would be called out and her run would not count.

Then the unthinkable happened; one of the opposing players went up to the umpire and asked if she could help her?  The umpire said yes.  And with the help of another team mate the two opposing players picked her up and carried her around the bases stopping at only long enough to allow her to touch each base with her good foot.

After surrounding the bases the two players put her gently down on home plate, and the girl with the one good leg was mobbed by her teammates for hitting a 3-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.

When asked why they offered to carry her? One of the players said she had done it because her opponent deserved it, and it was the right thing to do.

Not only did the players display character, but tremendous leadership. By doing what was right in the face of the temptation to sit back and watch was going to happen, they, without thought for themselves, did what many others could not, or would not, do with the game on the line. I believe both girls are champions!

Our political leaders could learn a lot from these young girls. Doing what is right—because it is right—even if it means working with the other side, is what real leaders do.

You can watch the whole story for yourself right here.