Heroes don’t always has capes

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You will have to excuse the 34-year-old young man if he didn’t look all that comfortable during his press conference in Pittsburgh. You see, he comes from a job where he is meant to basically live in the background. He is a major league umpire and very rarely, if ever do you see a press conference for an umpire. Let alone, a press conference for things that happen off the field four hours earlier.

I am sure one of the things that is taught in umpiring school is to be firm, yes, but also not to make a scene. Once the official takes a large pronounced role in a game, it doesn’t become about the players on the field, it becomes about him and that is not a place any official wants to be. Again, that press conference couldn’t be easy for the young umpire.

On June 28, umpire John Tumpane found himself walking across the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh, just yards from where he would take the field at PNC Park. As he walked across the bridge that bright afternoon he noticed a young lady that claimed she wanted a better view of the city as she was on the other side of the barrier.

The umpire quickly realized that the calm lady wasn’t there taking in the sights, she was there to take her own life. It was in that moment, the umpire’s life would change; his mission was to save another person.

He locked his arms over her arms and began talking to her. She protested and wanted to be let go into the river. The umpire offered the distraught lady lunch just to talk things over. Through the conversation, the umpire was able to mouth to passersby to call the police. Others came by to help restrain the lady. Finally, the police were able to come and securely get the young lady off the bridge.

As I have heard the story as told by the umpire, he kept on telling the young lady, “Things are better on this side.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized what a profound statement this really is. Not only were things better on the safer side of the bridge, things are better on this side of life. And no matter how challenging and how difficult things can be, things really are better on this side.

I can imagine that being a major league umpire is a tough job. Not only is every decision you make second guessed, but the lifestyle seems terribly nomadic. Travelling solo at worst, or with your small crew, at best, from city to city for six months out of the year. Add to this years of toiling in the minor leagues from small city to small city perfecting your craft on hot summer nights. It takes a special person to be an umpire.

And to hear Mr. Tumpane tell the story, he is just your average guy. He freely admitted that he has never had any type of crisis intervention or counseling training. He was just doing what he could to help someone in a time of distress. More than anything, he would be the first to admit that he was the right person at the right time. In a span of five minutes he became a relatively unknown major league umpire to a bona fide hero.

And the lesson we can learn through all of this is that heroes don’t have to wear capes, or even wear all black. Heroes can come from all walks of life and can be called to duty at any moment at any place. Mr. Tumpane crossed that bridge dozens of times, but it was that last time where the inner angels of his nature were summoned to do something he never realized he would do.

I for one can appreciate the humanity and care that Mr. Tumpane showed to this young lady in Pittsburgh and his example is one for all of us. He took the time to reach out a hand and find out what was wrong. And furthermore, when things got dire, he was calm, collected and reassuring.

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William “Bill” Lutz

Guest columnist

William “Bill” Lutz is executive director of The New Path Inc. He can be reached at [email protected].

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