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“3rd and 33”

Written by Posted On Friday, 19 February 2021 00:00

Third and thirty-three” certainly tells the story of Super Bowl LV played in Tampa, Florida on February 7th, 2021. That was the call by CBS announcer Jim Nantz as Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was “sacked” by the Tampa Bay Bucs defense. Chasing Mahomes all night seemed to be the highlight of SB LV, also called “the double-nickel”.

The hype preceding the game was certainly overblown considering the final score: Bucs 31, Chiefs 9. You are reading that correctly “nine” points in 60-minutes for the Chiefs! No touchdowns, which was not Mahomes style as he threw 38 touchdowns and 4,740 yards this season. The Chiefs only had 3 field goals by kicker Harrison Butker. BTW, while I’m on the subject of field goal kickers, Ryan Succop, field goal kicker for the Bucs was drafted #256 by the Chiefs out of South Carolina. He was the last draft choice in the 2009 draft earning him the title  “Mr. Irrelevant” created by Paul Salata and earning a week of frivolity in Newport Beach, California which was not as exciting as winning the Super Bowl and defeating his former team.

Tom Brady at 43 years of age again was awarded MVP honors. Brady vacated his 20-year tenure with the New England Patriots after winning 6 Super Bowls. Following the 2019 season, Brady sought a transfer to the Bucs with a new and much different coach in Bruce Arians. It was a shaky start in their relationship, but Arians knew what he was getting with Brady, yet was forthright in his early criticism of his quarterback. Arians knew that Brady’s knowledge of the game combined with his successful experience would make the players around him better.

Brady did just that and in his brief, but sincere and humble, post-game remarks said “the credit (for this win) belongs to ‘them’” pointing to his T*E*A*M. Then he handed the Lombardi Trophy to a teammate standing next to the platform. Arians’ remark makes sense when you watched the performance of the Bucs defense as well as their running backs.

While this was ongoing, Mahomes was in the Chief’s locker room doing some self-talk: “It was a bad feeling in that locker room after the game. I don’t want to have that feeling again. It’s not the end of something. It’s going to be another chapter where we’re going to have to drive to make ourselves better so we’re back in the game.”

Will you set your goal to bounce back when you’ve experienced a setback?

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Dr. Jim Tunney

Jim Tunney had an exemplary career in sports. A former high school coach, teacher, principal and district superintendent, he had a 40-year career in officiating football and basketball.

Thirty-one of those years he was an NFL Referee working a record twenty-nine post-season games including four Super Bowls, ten NFC/AFC Championship games, six Pro Bowls and twenty-five Monday Night Games.

He officiated some of the most memorable games in NFL history. His book Impartial Judgment: “The Dean of NFL Referees” Calls Pro Football As He Sees It, chronicles his NFL career.

As a Professional Speaker, he is Past President of The National Speakers Association and a Charter Member of its most prestigious group – The CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame. Jim holds every professional designation of the NSA, including the Oscar of Professional Speaking – The Cavett. NSA named him Philanthropist of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Tunney (a doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California) continues to serve his community as  Trustee Emeritus of both Monterey Peninsula College and York School; where he once served as Headmaster. In 1993, he founded the Jim Tunney Youth Foundation to support local community programs that develop leadership, work skills, wellness and self-esteem in youth. He and his wife Linda live in Pebble Beach, California. They have six children and sixteen grandchildren.

As an author he has written and/or co-authored thirteen books: Impartial Judgment, Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul, Speaking Secrets of the Masters, You Can Do It!, Super Bowl Sunday, Insights into Excellence, Lessons in Leadership, Build a Better You and his most recent book, It’s the Will, Not the Skill.

If you are looking for a keynote speaker who educates, motivates and entertains with a lifetime of stories about leadership, team building and sports 831-595-3258.

tunneysideofsports.com/

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