Classy move by Providence

[lurch91]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/providence-honors-shooting-victims-special-sandy-hook-jerseys-033341109--ncaab.html

When Providence coach Ed Cooley watched TV news coverage of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., this weekend, he decided he wanted to honor the victims in some way during the Friars' next game.

As a result, he called the school's contact at Nike and asked if the shoe-apparel giant could send fresh uniforms in time for Tuesday night's home game against Colgate.

What Nike provided Providence were green and white jerseys with "Sandy Hook" on the back in place of the players ' last names. The Friars chose the unfamiliar color scheme because green and white are Sandy Hook Elementary School's colors.

"I can't thank Nike enough because we felt we had to do something to acknowledge what those people are going through in Connecticut," Cooley told the Providence Journal. "I couldn't watch all this without being moved, like so many people. If we can show the people there that we're thinking of them, I hope we've helped."

In addition to the green jerseys, Providence found a handful of other ways to honor those impacted by the school shooting during their 79-45 rout of the Red Raiders.

School officials kept 26 upper-level seats empty and placed green ribbons on the chair backs under a banner that read "Newtown, Connecticut: We Have You In Our Thoughts and Prayers." Players wore green and white sneakers to match their jerseys and cheerleaders wore green ribbons in their hair.

For Cooley in particular, the school shooting touched home since he coached from 2006 to 2011 at Fairfield University, which is only 25 miles south of Newtown. Credit Cooley and everyone else at Providence for a classy gesture of support.

[brewcity77]

That's awesome.

[GGGG]

Hey, according to some here, that's just a bunch of "grief porn."   

[BubbaWilliams]

With something like this, there should not be any bickering or shots taken at anyone. This is a very nice way to honor those poor people of Newtown. My hat goes off to Ed Cooley.

[96warrior]

That really is awesome.

And yet...some here were put off by the mere suggestion that Marquette could have simply taken a moment of silence at Sunday's game...hmm.

[🏀]

That really is awesome.

And yet...some here were put off by the mere suggestion that Marquette could have simply taken a moment of silence at Sunday's game...hmm.

I wasn't put off, but I don't think anyone should have expected it or be put off by the lack of it.

[frozena pizza]

Classy indeed.  Thanks for posting.

[Tugg Speedman]

And yet...some here were put off by the mere suggestion that Marquette could have simply taken a moment of silence at Sunday's game...hmm.

Put off because it was not about the victims but rather an opportunity to let others show emotion in public so they can feel better about themselves. 

Newtown is 120 miles from Providence so it reasonable that many were directly affected.  This includes Cooley.  From the article

For Cooley in particular, the school shooting touched home since he coached from 2006 to 2011 at Fairfield University, which is only 25 miles south of Newtown.

For Providence it is about the victims and those directly affected.  This is not the case for MU/Milwaukee.

[LauxForThree]

Put off because it was not about the victims but rather an opportunity to let others show emotion in public so they can feel better about themselves.  

Newtown is 120 miles from Providence so it reasonable that many were directly affected.  This includes Cooley.  From the article

For Cooley in particular, the school shooting touched home since he coached from 2006 to 2011 at Fairfield University, which is only 25 miles south of Newtown.

For Providence it is about the victims and those directly affected.  This is not the case for MU/Milwaukee.

Wow.... I couldn't disagree more with this statement.  In times of a national tragedy, and I have yet hear someone disagree that this wasn't a NATIONAL tragedy... it is definitely appropriate for those across the country to show some symbolic gesture of unity and support.  You may view it as pandering, many... many others do not feel the same way.  As a father of a first grader and two other younger boys, this hit home in a very personal way, as it did with millions of other parents in the country.   I was at this Sunday's Bears/Packers game and the moment of silence before that contest wasn't done to make ME feel good. The mere physical distance between my location in Chicago and CT played no part of what my moment of silence was about.  My moment was entirely about the victims and those affected.  And for all of us as a country to take 10 seconds and recognize the impact of this horrific act and in some way, show unity are thoughtfulness as a NATION is justified and appropriate.

[ATWizJr]

I wasn't put off, but I don't think anyone should have expected it or be put off by the lack of it.

The fact that it wasn't expected is what makes it great and not grief porn.

[nathanziarek]

And for all of us as a country to take 10 seconds and recognize the impact of this horrific act and in some way, show unity are thoughtfulness as a NATION is justified and appropriate.

Yes it is, but not doing so isn't a disgrace. This was an awesome and touching show of support by Providence.  I'm not sure why it needs to be compared to what other organizations did or didn't do.

[Tugg Speedman]

Wow.... I couldn't disagree more with this statement.  ...   I was at this Sunday's Bears/Packers game and the moment of silence before that contest wasn't done to make ME feel good.

Last weekend was the third consecutive weekend the NFL had a moment of silence, and fourth in the last 7 weeks (hurricane Sandy victims).  Are we overdoing this?

If not, should the NFL just schedule one for every week?

[LauxForThree]

Yes it is, but not doing so isn't a disgrace. This was an awesome and touching show of support by Providence.  I'm not sure why it needs to be compared to what other organizations did or didn't do.

Perhaps it isn't a 'disgrace' per-se... tone deaf, yes... perhaps.  And as an institution of faith... one may have higher expectations.  

[LauxForThree]

Last weekend was the third consecutive weekend the NFL had a moment of silence, and fourth in the last 7 weeks (hurricane Sandy victims).  Are we overdoing this?

If not, should the NFL just schedule one for every week?

Or its just recognition of whats going on in the world.  We can all put our head in the sand too if that makes people feel better.

[Tugg Speedman]

Or its just recognition of whats going on in the world.  We can all put our head in the sand too if that makes people feel better.

Thank you for saying this as that is EXACTLY my point.  It is about people getting a more to show emotion in public so they can say "I care more than you."  It is not about the victims.

[nathanziarek]

Perhaps it isn't a 'disgrace' per-se... tone deaf, yes... perhaps.  And as an institution of faith... one may have higher expectations.  

That's just an opinion. I'm of the mind that "moments of silence" don't really do much. Maybe they bring people together for 10 seconds, but they are largely symbolic. And that's fine ... symbolism is good, and if it helps people with their grief, great.

But to not perform a symbolic act isn't suddenly wrong, or disgraceful or tone deaf. In fact, I'd say that only having a moment of silence when absolute tragedy strikes is maybe more tone deaf than realizing the destruction that people live every day.

I understand your point ... I just think you've taken a very hard line on a symbolic act.

[GGGG]

Thank you for saying this as that is EXACTLY my point.  It is about people getting a more to show emotion in public so they can say "I care more than you."  It is not about the victims.

First, you took his quote out of context.

Second, you are being presumptuous.  How do you know what goes through people's minds during a moment of silence?  

[ATWizJr]

Thank you for saying this as that is EXACTLY my point.  It is about people getting a more to show emotion in public so they can say "I care more than you."  It is not about the victims.

I think he meant that the gesture was intended as a show of support for the victims, their families, and the town of Newtown.  That's who is meant to feel better, not the people making the gesture.

[LauxForThree]

First, you took his quote out of context.

Second, you are being presumptuous.  How do you know what goes through people's minds during a moment of silence?  

Thanks, took the words out of my mouth.

I'm not going to get into this back and forth.  If an organization chooses not to recognize what happened when the entire country has been deeply impacted, then that is their right.  If individuals choose not to care about the situation, that is their right too.  But flags flew at half staff across the country for a reason.

And to support and justify no act of recognition to this event, is a position held by very, very few people in the country.  So just realize that you are in the minority.

[pumata]

I wasn't put off, but I don't think anyone should have expected it or be put off by the lack of it.

This communal grieving started when Diana crashed into a revetment after a nite of boozing. The shooting was tragic but not sure why Marquette should have a moment of silence.

[Lennys Tap]

I think a case can be made that the "moment of silence" idea is becoming overdone. That said, it's absolutely appropriate for a tragedy of this magnitude.

[ATWizJr]

This comunal grieving started when Diana crashed into a revetment after a nite of boozing. The shooting was tragic but not sure why Marbquette should have a moment of silence.

Because it is a national tragedy and Marquette is part of the nation.  What could be the harm?

[pumata]

  Because it is a national tragedy and Marquette is part of the nation.  What could be the harm?

Marquette is a Catholic institution. Where is the outpouring of grief, the tears, moments of silence, candle vigils, floral bouquets piled high outside Jeanne d'Arc, etc for the victims of the Boko Haram suicide attack in Kaduna, Nigeria against a Catholic Church service a few weeks ago? The slaughter of fellow Catholics was immense and horrific and affected hundreds of families. Marquette did nothing to honor that loss so why should it do so for a bunch of upper middle class folks in Connecticut? I guess the senseless killing of thousands of Africans each month doesn't merit grief.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Because of my proximity to the tragedy, I've been contacted by a few of my fellow 1991 alums who just wanted to make sure my family and I were OK.    It's well appreciated.

A moment of silence would have been appropriate especially for this reason, Marquette may have a student from Newtown, CT.  I made Marquette acceptance congratulatory phone calls a year or 2 ago and I seem to recall a student from Newtown with Marquette being her first choice as she had family in Milwaukee.  (Not confirmed and I'm working on memory so I could be mixing up with another student.)  

My wife teaches in the school district that will be the new temporary home of the Sandy Hook students.  She spent the day yesterday with other teachers decorating it, putting up welcome signs and trying to simply make it look like a school again.  It's been vacant for 2 years.

[Real Chilly Podcast]

Thank you for saying this as that is EXACTLY my point.  It is about people getting a more to show emotion in public so they can say "I care more than you."  It is not about the victims.

I'm with you.  If the Athletic Department chose to go with a moment of silence, that choice would have been "about the victims" and then when it happened, each fan in attendance would have their own response, and undoubtedly some would take advantage of the opportunity.

If the Tan One were coaching here still, and it was a high profile matchup on TV, you know that he would demand a moment of silence so that he could pinch out a few "genuine" tears in front of a national audience.

I have unfortunately been to more than my fair share of funerals in my day, and there are always a few folks trying to have a grief-measuring contest.  Anyone who says that this is not a possible response to a moment of silence either needs to step out of their righteous ego bubble, or admit they are one of these self-centered grief contestants.

OF COURSE this event hits close to home, and I'm sure everyone here has offered their thoughts and prayers for the victims in their own personal way.  But if you think you need a moment of silence at a basketball game to jog your memory about this tragedy, you need to take a long look in the mirror.  

There is no man smaller than the one who draws pride from their grief over the demise of others.