Whether you are a baseball fan or not you have to be impressed with Detroit Tigers pitcher, Armando Galarraga. This week, Armando would have pitched a perfect game had it not been for the umpire’s incorrect call on a play at first base; which would have been the last out of the game for Galarraga.
First base umpire, Jim Joyce admitted after the game that he made a mistake and wished they could overturn the call and give Armando his perfect game. Commisoner Bud Selig said he will not change the call, but did say that the Tigers organization showed “dignity and class and that their conduct was admirable and embodied true sportsmanship.”
Over the years we have seen plenty of stories of little league parents getting into it with coaches and officials over their kids games, especially when it relates to a bad call against their child. How refreshing was it to see a professional athlete respond to a unquestionably bad call that cost him a perfect game say, “nobody’s perfect, everybody makes mistakes. The more important thing is for my heart, I know I threw a perfect game.” No pouting or profanity laced tirade, just a simple act of grace on the part of a true class act.
The bible is filled with men of integrity, but none more than Joseph. In Genesis 39 we see that his bosses wife cast longing eyes at him and one day when no one else was around she threw herself at him. (v.7) But Joseph responded the way only a true class act would by saying, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.” (v.9)
Who you are when no one else is looking, will be the same person that is going to come out when times of testing and trials come your way. Both Armando and Joseph showed by their actions they they are the real deal. Both are true class acts.