SPORTS

Late But Still Great

By Steve Lawrence

When the pandemic was ramping up in 2020 virtually every sports fan was frustrated to see so many lost opportunities. High school and college athletes had worked so hard, for so long, knowing they had a eeting window of opportunity to compete, and to see a season—or two—be stripped away from them seemed so unfair. Some opportunities never come back around. However, I am pleased to say, some do.

It was great to see the thirteen members of the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2020 take the eld on Saturday for their belated moment in the sun. e recognition was overdue but hats o to the university for making it happen. e former players (along with loved ones of Jim Case, the beloved Big Red athletic trainer who passed on in 2020) walked out onto Schoellkopf Field to a raucous welcome from a big crowd, basking in bright sunshine and much respect and appreciation. ose in attendance were reminded just what a Golden Age it was for Big Red Athletics a dozen years ago, as the majority of the inductees were from the Class of 2010. Four All-Americans were introduced (Lou Dale and Ryan Wittman from the men's basketball team, Sean Greenhalgh of the lacrosse team and national champion wrestler Troy Nickerson), as was a former Big Red football player sporting a Super Bowl Ring. Readers may recall that Bryan Walters (class of 2010) won his ring when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Walters also suited up for the San Diego Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Minnesota Vikings.

Also inducted were hoops star (and semi-local icon) Je Foote, the big man led the Big Red to three Ivy titles and a Sweet Sixteen appearance before playing professional basketball, women's basketball star Lauren Benson and men's ice hockey standout Colin Greening. e so ball program was well-represented, as Alyson Intihar, Elise Menaker (both class of '10) and Tracy Quinn (class of '00) were inducted, as was volleyball's Megan Mushovic ('10).

As stated, a special round of applause was reserved when Jim Case's name was read. Inducted as a “Special Category” member, Jim's 32 years of dedicated service to the department and its athletes was recognized, and when he passed unexpectedly at age 55, it was a huge loss for his family, and for the Cornell Athletics family.

My thanks to these Big Red stars of yesteryear—now in their mid-thirties and several bringing young children to share in their big day—for bringing their best game while at Cornell.

HOF inductee Jeff Foote (class of 2010) poses with former Big Red gymnast Kellie McGoldrick (class of ‘85) (Photo: Steve Lawrence)

When Ithaca College tweeted out in February that “We Got Our Guy,” they were referring to the return to South Hill of Michael Toerper. Toerper had served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Bombers from 2017-19, and when Dan Swanstrom departed for Penn, Toerper was quickly chosen as the football program's next head coach. So far, so good.

An email from my friend Dave Wohlheuter pointed out that “Toerper is only one of two coaches to begin their coaching careers at IC with a 3-0 record. Dick Lyon, who I worked with in 1965-66, before he went to Army, was 4-0 in 1958, his rst year as a head coach and with the Bombers. Dick’s 1958 team nished 6-1, losing only to the dreaded Red Dragons. And of course, if IC wins this Saturday at Hobart, Mike and Coach Dick will be the only IC football coaches to begin their entire head coaching career, 4-0.” e Bombers had a bye week last weekend and will head north to Hobart on Saturday to open the Liberty League schedule.

Dave Wohlheuter also reminded me that the 45th year of the Tompkins County Football Luncheons is underway, and this year, the gatherings are being held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles (behind Wegmans) every ursday. e third one takes place this coming week, beginning at 11:30, with speeches by local football coaches starting at 12:15. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Street Sweeper Violates City Rules

Ihave been awakened again by the sound of the City street sweeper in operation at sometime between 4 and 5 a.m. Superintendent of Public Works rone, might I direct your attention to the City Noise Ordinance. is machine is de nitely louder than any party or sound amplifying equipment. It seems reasonable that street sweeping be carried on during daylight hours. is machine is so loud it can be heard blocks away. e sound is annoying and has the carrying power of an emergency siren. Please limit the use of it during nighttime hours. Gene Endres, Ithaca

Ithaca PBA Supports True Press Freedom

The hardworking men and women of the Ithaca Police Benevolent Association thank Alderman Jeffrey Barken for continuing to stand up for transparency and true press freedom in our community.

Freedom of speech and a free press are fundamental constitutional rights that all Ithaca Police O cers have sworn to uphold and protect, so that everyone in our community can have a voice, not just those with the deepest pockets and a bully pulpit. Any attempt by a government o cial, no matter how subtle, to try and alter someone’s published opinion is an assault on free speech that should never be tolerated.

While we strongly disagree with Chairwoman Shawna Black’s defense of the Tompkins County Communication Director’s egregious behavior, we nevertheless want to applaud her for her clear statement of support for law enforcement. is is a dramatic and refreshing breath of fresh air in a conversation that for years, has held nothing but disdain for police o cers and rhetoric that has driven a devastating wedge between local law enforcement professionals and the community that they love and proudly continue to serve.

We thank Chairwoman Black for publicly and strongly voicing this position of support for our colleagues at the Tompkins County Sheri ’s O ce. Now, in the City of Ithaca, we can only hope that the policy makers could nd it in themselves to do the same for their own Ithaca Police O cers and for the Ithaca Police Department, an organization that has been an integral part of our community for over 134 years. omas W. Condzella President, Ithaca Police Benevolent Association

Question of the Week Was Ableist

Asking “With COVID receding will you shop locally and in-person more?” was ableist. e COVID pandemic is not receding for those people who are immunocompromised, have disabilities, or other chronic illnesses. Because of the governor dropping the public transit mask mandate I will no longer be riding TCAT and will have to spend money I do not have to get groceries delivered by Instacart and other online vendors. We have to get through our rst unmasked fall, winter, and spring seasons before we can determine if the pandemic is indeed receding. Tompkins County infection and hospitalization numbers for this summer were high compared to the past two summers. erefore, long COVID remains a threat. Don’t let ableism become a dominant attitude here in Ithaca.

gmatson

Well-written Article Ruined

Well written article [“When Ithaca Rode Shotguns”], except you ruined it at the end by implying that there are always “environmental costs of manufacturing.” First, that depends on what is being manufactured as well as the methods and procedures used. Second, even if all manufacturing were to cause signi cant harm to the environment, what is your solution? Manufacture nothing? at is pretty much what we’re doing now in New York compared to years past. en what? It has already become so prohibitively expensive to manufacture most things in the USA. us in order to remain pro table, companies moved those operations overseas. We are now a plantation for China; they manufacture all the parts we use for everything, and we farm and make drugs, weapons, and vehicles. Our biggest export these days are US dollars, but that could change quickly once the US dollar loses its reserve currency status. en prices in the US will rise even more dramatically as those dollars all ow back into the USA where they’re legal tender, and where they will bid up prices even more than the newer dollars created by the Fed and commercial banks.

fewerlaws