SPORTS

A Unique Pedigree

By Steve Lawrence

Iam o en asked why I don’t write more o en about the Yankees, the Giants, or the Bills. I reply that I will do so if there is a local angle I can bring to the story—like the fact that Ithaca College grad Tim Locastro is playing for the Yankees—but if there is no such connection, it’s not really good story fodder for a local paper.

It so happens that one of this week’s biggest national sports stories does have a local angle. Cornell grad and Big Red football standout J.C. Tretter is the President of the National Football League Players Association and is thus front and center in the intense scrutiny surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ handling of the Tua Tagovailoa situation.

Tagovailoa, as many people are aware, drew the concern of the masses a week ago Sunday, when he was tackled by a Bu alo Bills defender and the back of his helmet hit the ground with considerable force. It didn’t look like a severe impact, but when Tua got up looking wobbly, then took three steps and fell down, he was quickly taken o the eld. I recall wondering how many games he would miss. He missed three plays, much to the surprise of many informed observers. e Dolphins and the NFL insisted all concussion protocols had been followed.

Four days later, Tagovailoa trotted out with his teammates in a ursday night game against the Bengals and was once again slammed to the turf. He did not have an opportunity to get up and fall back down, as he instead lay on the ground, convulsing, his ngers clenched as if he had lost all control of his motor functions. He was carried o on a stretcher. As I watched, I was reminded of the lyrics to a Bill Withers song: “You just keep on using me...until you use me up.” ( at said, I o er full disclosure that I am not a neuroscientist, but that was a very disturbing spectacle.)

Tretter—a recent NFL retiree who was dra ed by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Dra —was recently re-elected to serve as the NFLPA’s President. He was quoted as saying, “We are all outraged by what we have seen the last several days and scared for the safety of one of our brothers. What everyone saw both Sunday and last night were ‘no-go’ symptoms within our concussion protocols.

“We need to gure out how and why the decisions were made last Sunday to allow a player with a ‘no-go’ symptom back on the eld.”

I asked a friend of mine about Tretter’s ascension to the President of the NFLPA, and Buck Briggs said, “J.C. brings a very unique pedigree and skill-set to the position.”

Briggs (Cornell class of ‘76, Georgetown University Law Center, class of ‘82) brings an insider’s perspective to the conversation, given he was in-house counsel for the NFLPA in the 1980s before moving over to the other side, so to speak, and becoming the NFL’s Vice President for Arbitration and Litigation. Having seen the interaction between the league and the NFLPA from both sides, when asked how Tretter could be in the position as a recent retiree, he said, “J.C. was elected while still active, and he will be able to nish out his term.” Briggs added, “Tretter is seen as a very smart individual, and he’s highly respected, and very in uential. He has a degree from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and that is part of a very unique skill set.” According to Briggs, other NFLPA Presidents have “used the position as a very important stepping stone,” o ering as an example Gene Upshaw’s journey from NFLPA President to Executive Director. Buck also said, “ e concussion issue has been a very important topic of conversation between the Players Association and the NFL, and there is sure to be a serious investigation. ere will be much more to follow.”

NFL Players Association President J.C. Tretter during his playing days at Cornell. (Photo: Provided)

I am adding this, because I do not know when—or if—I will be able to so again: e Big Red, the Bombers, Bills, the Giants and the Jets all won last weekend.

The Talk at

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Support for Yearwood & Rosario

In three di erent segments, I have lived in Ithaca for 30 years. When I returned to Ithaca nine years ago, I was disheartened to nd that community policing, with o cers walking the neighborhoods, had ended, and that a SWAT truck had been put into action. So with great hope, I have watched Eric Rosario and Karen Yearwood lead Ithaca’s Reimagining Public Safety Working Group. As a member of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission, I have had the opportunity to meet with them and have my questions answered fully and honestly. I continue to be impressed by their hard work, their clear and detailed report, their e orts to include all sectors of our community in shaping our future , and for their deep concern for the safety of all.

Ruth Yarrow, Ithaca

Iam writing to lend my support and admiration for both Karen Yearwood and Eric Rosario. I have known them and worked with them both for many years. I rst met Karen when she was hired as Director of e Village at Ithaca. Eric and I met 10 years before that. When I heard that they were stepping up to lead the community discussions on the Reimagining Safety project, I couldn’t think of anyone more quali ed. ey have earned the trust and respect of so many in our community because of their dedication to social justice and to improving the lives of children and families. ey are also exceptionally good listeners, who absorb di erent views with a calm, a rming way. We are fortunate that they live here and agreed to work with the City on this important, challenging, plan to improve public safety.

Je Furman, Ithaca

Ijust read the article titled “Two at Center of Ethics Investigation Deny Wrongdoing.” I write this letter as a resident of the city and as one who has known Eric Rosario and Karen Yearwood, the two at the center of the ethics investigation, for many years. I was very excited when Eric and Karen were selected to lead the Reimagining Working Group. I could not think of any two people more ethical, honorable, and capable to lead the e ort. To anyone who knows Eric and Karen the accusations levied against them seemed absurd; an obvious political attempt to delay and derail the e orts to reimagine law enforcement. While the obstructionists search for mouse bones in the chicken soup, the residents of Tompkins County must continue to demand courage from their elected o cials to face the demands of the time and implement the changes that will lead to a more sensible and just system of policing for our community. Eric and Karen will continue to have my support. We are all lucky to have them and for their willingness to step up to serve. Fernando de Aragon, Ithaca

Dismayed By Invitation To Yellow Deli

Iwould like to express my dismay and bring awareness to the fact that [the Downtown Ithaca Alliance] invited e Yellow Deli (Twelve Tribes) to be on the list of food vendors for Apple Fest. As you have published, the Twelve Tribes have been investigated for child labor, ties to domestic terrorism, and are known to accost members of our community in order to recruit them. ey don’t use their place of business on the Commons to do so, although they do come up to people on the street. is is not a secret. Despite their history of antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, misogyny etc., DIA responded to my DM asking for an explanation as to why they are openly invited to an event that draws crowds from all over the region with a back-pocket stock response about being “inclusive” and “work with all of our property owners and businesses, regardless of religious a liation or other de ning characteristics.” I found this o ensive if just simply because they are hiding behind the word “inclusive” while allowing a society that is historically homogenous and intolerant to hold space in a major city event. When will we call it what it is? A cult. It’s one thing for the Yellow Deli to just be open on the Commons during Apple Fest, it is wholly another for DIA to align themselves in this way. I’m tired of this rhetoric that Ithaca is so learned and “woke” when I continually see leaders tip-toe around issues that are very much clear cut. We either continue to let the Twelve Tribes openly harass people, and in fact, give them permission to do so, or we actually live up to our word and make Ithaca a safe space for people of all colors, religions, genders, sexualities, abilities, and renounce anything that threatens that progress.

Sophie Israelsohn, Ithaca