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Haley Fagan is a starting senior shortstop for the Auburn Tigers, a team that just beat Florida for the first time since 2006 on Monday night. Fagan’s senior year so far is one that most players dream about. Hitting .377 with a .672 slugging percentage, and starting every game so far at shortstop with only 7 errors on the season. Yet, right now….no one cares about any of that. No one cares about how well she is playing or the leadership she has shown this year. All anyone cares about is a 2-minute video clip that aired on national television and is now all over social media. A video clip that will follow her long after her career ends.
Many people on social media are saying “to be fair, there is history here,” referring to how Tim Walton kicked both of her older sisters off his team a few years ago. Rumors flew about why, and no one will truly ever know. Let me be clear, this is an excuse. There is absolutely no reason to act like this after a game. By not shaking a coach’s hand you not only disrespect the game, your team, your own coaches, but are showing that you do not deserve to wear that uniform. Let alone the fact that it quickly escalated. Is Tim Walton also at fault here? Of course, but the actions of Fagan started the entire altercation.
I’m sure things like this happen all the time, on fields all across the nation. The difference? Haley Fagan and Tim Walton were being broadcasted on the SEC Network and it was on national television. If someone videotaped you for an entire day at the field, what would they say about you? Could you confidently say that you represented yourself, your family, or your team in a positive light? What would they say about your attitude, your character, or the effort and passion that you put into what you do? One moment does not define who you are, but many small moments combined do. The more positive moments there are, the more positive the experience.
I’m sure things like this happen all the time, on fields all across the nation. The difference? Haley Fagan and Tim Walton were being broadcasted on the SEC Network and it was on national television. If someone videotaped you for an entire day at the field, what would they say about you? Could you confidently say that you represented yourself, your family, or your team in a positive light? What would they say about your attitude, your character, or the effort and passion that you put into what you do? One moment does not define who you are, but many small moments combined do. The more positive moments there are, the more positive the experience.
1 Comments
It's important for athletes to remember their actions can have lasting consequences.