Shamrock Notes

The personal sized envelope was addressed to The Shamrock Animal Fund. It wore the typical return address sticker. I tore open the seal and found a check with a note attached on a pin post-it. The note explained the sender was not able to attend the upcoming Shamrock's Celebration, but she wanted to invite someone else to attend in her place. It's those little instances of thoughtfulness that touch me as our journey begins in this not-for-profit foundation.

As much as Jamie and I appreciate the support of family, friends and acquaintances it is the random acts of kindness from strangers that hit home. The ten dollar donations, the $25 tucked into an envelope or even a note or e-mail offering to volunteer their time and talent to help our fledgling effort to assist animals in need of veterinary care.

Then there are the animals. Before we have officially taken in our first dollar we have had inquiries from people feeling the pinch of paying the bill to help these beloved members of their family. One man has a Dachsund who needs spinal surgery. Another family has a pit bull who is hoping for some help. We're not yet up and running to assist, but it's clear the need exists.

One woman was so enthusiastic about coming to our event she left a message on my voicemail asking for someone to contact her, but never left a phone number. Mary Jo, if you read this call back with your number. We'd love to have you join us at Shamrock's Celebration.

Orange Panic

The Syracuse Orange lost a game today, but not the season. That is the beauty of going 28-4, winning the Big East regular season title and being ranked among the top three or four teams in the country for the balance of the season. It's not surprising the team lost to Georgetown today. What is more remarkable is that they have won so many games with hardly a loss, especially when you consider the names of the teams they've played over the last few weeks: UConn, Georgetown, Louisville and Villanova.

Of course we are all concerned about the right leg of Arinze Onuaku. The prognosis from the team doctor is reasonably positive. He thinks Onuaku will be back, but is still waiting for MRI results in the morning. The injury and the loss are not reason for panic. This team has accomplished too much and has too much seasoning to get concerned.

The same can not be said for some of the student sports talk radio hosts on WAER at Syracuse University. You would have thought the whole team drove off a cliff the way they were using hyperbole to declare an end to all of the Orange hopes for a run to the Final Four. I'm sure there is not a course in exaggeration at the Newhouse School, but maybe they need one to teach the notion of restraint, perspective and sound judgment.

There is an expected range of emotions from fans following the team. Some think losing in the Big East will serve the team well in getting ready for next week. Others are convinced the number one seed in the NCAA tournament has been lost. Relax everyone. All Syracuse needs to get back to their winning ways is a match up against a 15th or 16th seed in Buffalo next week. Once winning ways return and a full dose of confidence we will once again be chatting about a likely run deep into the post-season.

Graduation Rates

The disparity is as plain as stepping from the sunny side of the moon to the dark side. Compare high school graduation rates in the suburbs with high school graduation rates in the cities and you see a spread of 45% or better in some cases. The divide is unmistakable. While families with some means make choices about living in better school districts or sending their children to private schools the families without the resources have little choice, but to send their children to the public schools.

When we talk about long term solutions to economic problems one of the first places to look should be the schools. Educated children turn into educated adults. Educated adults can more easily thrive in the world, provide for themselves and their family and contribute to community and culture.

The alternative is not only a personal hardship, but also a drain on society and our limited resources to provide for the needy. That is one way of explaining why everyone should have concern for the poor performance of students in school even schools in neighborhoods that might look different than yours.

We featured Hillside's Work Scholarship Program tonight on our newscasts. It's a mentoring and tutoring support system that intensively tracks performance starting with the fundamental basis for success in school: everyday attendance. The program than reaches further in supporting at risk students. Here's the kicker to it all, the program works. Virtually every one of the students in it graduate from high school. That's out of a group that would have been considered most likely to drop out.

So there are paths to success. They require new ways of thinking and spending. But, don't be fooled that everything's alright because your district is doing fine. If they are not all better the larger community will suffer.

Shamrock Run through Tipperary Hill

The beaming sunshine warmed the chilly March air as runners jogged around the park that is home to Syracuse's zoo. We were loosening up to make a run through one of the city's great neighborhoods known as Tipperary Hill. This was the 4 mile trek known as the Shamrock Run. In just five years it has grown from a group of a few hundred on the hill's winding roads to a mass of 2600 speeding through the down hills and pushing to survive the uphill climb.

This run is a kick start to the spring road race season in the Syracuse area. It's just a little more than a 5K. It comes about two months before the signature run of the season which is the 10 mile Mountain Goat. The Shamrock Run offers a varied terrain with plenty of hills, but it's the neighborhood itself that makes it remarkable.

Runners twist through some winding streets that take you past Syracuse's most Irish neighborhood. We pass the traffic light with the green light on top and the Stonethrowers monument. We pass St. Patrick's Church and tightly fit two family homes that are well maintained and often owner occupied. There are just enough young people renting in the area to keep it lively.

The race course took us past eight or ten bands entertaining the runners and the crowds that gathered to cheer us on. We also passed the familiar taverns with names like Coleman's, Nibsy and the Blarney Stone.

The mile long rise just past the two mile mark saps some strength that is quickly refreshed with one more turn into Burnet Park. The slight decline into the finish line refreshes the legs. Then it's all smiles and congratulations to other runners who are finishing too.

My pace was just a few seconds different than the last couple years. That's always a good sign. Now that the weather is breaking it's time to up the mileage to get ready for the tougher ten miler in 54 days.

Orange supports Shamrock Animal Fund

The practice popped with words of encouragement. Captain Andy Rautins shouted, "Nice shot Tex!" He was referring to All-American candidate Wesley Johnson. Rautins yelled, "You got ball ‘B’." Making sure Brandon Triche was in the right spot on defense. Coach Boeheim's whistle stopped play. The Hall of Famer quietly, but firmly instructed his players what to expect from the Louisville Cardinals.

The top ranked Syracuse Orange basketball team whipped through a sharp practice regimen before boarding a late afternoon flight to Kentucky. They appeared focused and energetic. Assistant Coach Mike Hopkins told me they were looking forward to the tournament atmosphere they expect to see in Freedom Hall Saturday afternoon. He made it clear the Orange wants to get Rick Pitino's Cardinals back for the loss they handed the Orange in the Dome.

Soaking in the basketball was a side benefit for my real purpose for venturing into the Carmelo Anthony Center. I was there to pick up an autographed collectible basketball signed by Coach Boeheim and the entire team. They signed the ball so it can be auctioned during Shamrock's Celebration on March 20th to benefit The Shamrock Animal Fund.

My gratitude goes to Juli Boeheim and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation for donating the autographed ball. I also appreciate the encouragement she gave Jamie and me to work together on this fund raising effort. Graduate Assistant and Syracuse legend Gerry McNamara also deserves our thanks. Gerry delivered on his promise to get the entire team to sign the ball. He graciously offered to help The Shamrock Animal Fund in anyway he could.

We will cheer the team on again tomorrow, then at the Big East next week. We've purposely scheduled Shamrock's Celebration to fit between their games in the NCAA tournament. So come join us to benefit the Fund and take a shot at going home with the collectible basketball.

Route 81 and Paterson

When Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner picked up the phone to talk to Governor Paterson two weeks ago it was an urgent matter. A partial collapse of an aging brick building jeopardized travelers on the adjacent section of Interstate 81. The governor told her she had the full support of the state to shut down the highway and clean up the problem with the building. That was the weekend that Governor Paterson announced his run for a full term in office.

Tonight Syracuse Corporation Counsel Juanita Perez Williams called an unusual evening news conference to make it clear this mess is New York's problem. She never named the governor, but she did refer to his problems in Albany that have diluted his ability to deliver on his promise.

To be fair there are plenty of legal issues slowing down this building condemnation, demolition and clean up. The property owner does not want to take responsibility, the city doesn't want to be given responsibility and the state wants a court to say it's alright to exert its responsibility.

What is lost in these negotiations is the significant inconvenience being caused to drivers needing to head north out of the city. And how about the thousands expected in three weeks for the NCAA Eastern Regional basketball finals at the Carrier Dome. Lawyers need to get out of the way of this problem quickly to bring resolution sooner rather than later.

Maybe the governor can step in to exert his influence...

Governor Paterson and the Yankees

Who would have thought Yankees tickets to the World Series would bring down a governor? Then again who would have thought a governor who vowed to fight on would end his campaign six days after starting it. I guess it's true what they say: in New York anything can happen.

It's not the tickets per se that have caused Governor David Paterson the problem. We all assume public officials get free tickets to events. That's not necessarily unethical or illegal. But, the allegation here is the governor sought these free tickets. Then he may have back dated a check to make it appear he intended to pay for them. He was covering his tracks. The State Commission on Public Integrity says he falsely testified that he always planned to pay for the tickets.

Senator John Defrancisco said tonight Paterson knows what happened. If he's telling the truth that he should remain as governor. If he knows he's not telling the truth he needs to quit.

Political blood is in the water. Each day we wonder what will be the next allegation. What will be the next revelation of impropriety? New Yorkers deserve better.

A new poll out today shows 61% of New Yorkers prefer Paterson finish the year. The answer seems partly motivated by a fear of who else would fill the vacuum. One e-mailer tonight pointed out the importance of closely examining the lieutenant governor choice in the upcoming race.

Last Thursday night I wrote this about Paterson ending his campaign. "He claimed today he can now focus on governing New York. Governing without political power is difficult enough in any state, but in New York it's impossible. It makes you wonder whether Michelle Paterson could be standing there for another announcement sometime during the remaining ten months of the governor's term."

Giving him ten months may have been too generous. The odds makers are more likely to measure Paterson's time in weeks or maybe even days.