Competition and Collaboration

Last Sunday on the Wally Park bus from the airport to the parking lot I read the following story in a 2-day old USA Today. I'm sure its been on the blogosphere and on Youtube but I wanted to capture it here. The story is about a young woman softall player from Western Oregon University. It is worth the read....or watch this video
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3380875



Home run hitter gets lift from opponents
Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University did something Saturday she had never done in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence Saturday in a softball game in Ellensburg, Wash. But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates helped her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch-runner could be called in and the homer would count as a single.
Then members of the Central Washington University team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count — contributing to their elimination from the playoffs.
When the umpire said there was no rule against it, Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the bases, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her uninjured leg.
"Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg, and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said, 'OK, thank you very much.' "
Tucholsky's injury, a possible torn ligament, will sideline her for the rest of the season. Western Oregon won 4-2. (From: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/sports/20080501/c13_update01.art.htm ) Photo from USA Today.



I think there is a lesson here regarding the new possibilities when we go beyond competition to collaboration...... I've got to think about the implications of this.