Peter Hooley shocked me back to Brooklyn and my early childhood. I was in the midst of celebrating my 11th day of life when Bobby Thompson homered off Ralph Branca to give the Giants their most unlikely National League Championship (they called it winning the pennant back then) but the memory still pains. And so, understand that “The Shot Heard ‘Round The Campus” will forever impact our lives. The way taking Organic Chemistry as a second semester freshman when there are multiple snow days impacts our lives.
But could a nicer guy break our hearts? This noble young man, from the other side of the earth, left his team to travel home mid season to spend time with his mother as she slipped from life, only to return to The Capitol to inflict our mortal wound. “O death, where is thy sting?, O grave, where is thy victory?”
Hooley, unlike Thompson, is a genuine star on his team. A journalism major with the taste of the dramatic, he plays the role of Marcus Brutus on this, the Ides of March, carrying out the will of Cassius Brown. “But Peter is an honourable man.” No, really, Peter is an honorable man. And to think, I came to bury Hooley, not to praise him…
As our Seawolves continue their impersonation of the lovable Brooklyn Bums I retain my optimism, faith and devotion to our guys. The Dodgers eventually won it all, made all the sweeter by swallowing many a bitter pill of victory swiped. Courage, commitment and fortitude in the face of adversity are noble experiences, while an easy life is a life unappreciated.
The joy of celebrating victories seems tempered by suffering defeat, but defeat is its own celebration. Our shared experiences make us the individuals we are and further the building of our communities. Experiencing the lows with the highs (and we’ve had many highs!) allows us to deepen our commitment to one another and deepen our understanding of one another.
Jameel, Carson, Scott, and the rest of the team are an inspiration. Their commitment to win never wavered and they battled like warriors. For themselves, and for us. They didn’t win, but they sure as hell didn’t lose.
And what an extraordinary community, we have! I’m proud of our team, and our coaches. Their commitment to education and success is as good as can be found. A society they populate is a society in which I want to live.
Our band and spirit squads make me prouder every day, and wondering how that’s even possible. They manage defeat as they engage victory. Consistently proud, consistently inspiring. Consistent growth and deepened commitments to themselves and to each other.
Consistently Seawolves