I Studied English as a Foreign Language: Bob Cousy

Somewhere in the discussion of diversity at Holy Cross, we've lost track of Bob Cousy growing up as a native French speaker, and child of poor immigrants.   He described himself as "the originally socially deprived shy ghetto kid."  He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in New York City's Yorkville neighborhood, a melting pot of races and culture.   Cousy's roommate on the Boston Celtics was the first African-American drafted by the NBA,  Chuck Cooper.

The Callahan Tunnel

Reba McEntire the country western singer reminds me of my mother, except my mother had black hair, a reserved manner, and a very dry Irish sense of humor that you'd miss if you weren't paying attention.

Mom was smart, too.  The Navy picked her for its first elite class of women officers.  She was joined by the mothers of my classmates Mark Doherty and Bob Henry.

She was a tremendously kind and sensitive person, and even though she disliked dogs, when we prevailed on her to let us have one and then neglected it, she took care of the dog and treated it like a third child.

She regretted having been young and at times unkind and kept repeating the story about the Callahan Tunnel.  She'd been fixed up with a young soldier named Callahan for a night out with friends.  She was tall, he was short and she refused when he asked her to dance.  Callahan didn't survive the war.  Later she couldn't have regretted more refusing to dance with him.

Great Moments: The Pianist

My favorite Holy Cross football moment occurred at the end of a Friday freshman practice.  The coaches were having a last say before letting us go.   The first game was a week away and there'd be practice Saturday.  Anything else?   Fran Parkin asked: Coach, I have a piano concert tomorrow, is it all right if I miss practice.  Coach Donaher (who the juvenile among us called Ding Dong), jumped all over this.   Piano concert! Piano concert!  Football players don't give concerts!   The head coach, Carlin Lynch, stopped him, and dryly said:   Coach Donaher, the great NFL quaterback Otto Graham played the violin and was a concert pianist.  Fran, knock 'em dead at your concert tomorrow.  We'll see you Monday.