Good News on the Doorstep

Dr. George Arangio, All Ivy Guard, 1964: When Significance Matches Success

This article is now appearing in The Crescent, the newsletter of The Cornell Football Association. ( www.cornellbigred.com) Go to "football," then "Cornell Football Associaton" on the right, click and you will see The Crescent.

Here is the preview:

"Ed Marinaro ... the greatest player in Ivy League football history"

Well, it wasn't a Cornellian making such a claim, nor #44 himself, but rather the erudite, articulate, and handsome Jack Ford--award-winning television legal commentator, and himself, an Ivy League Football alumnus. And the guy's a Yalie!!

So now that Jack has his special place in the hearts of all Cornell alumns, what was Ed Marinaro's reaction to such a generous introduction at the Ivy League Football Association tribute to Big Ed and the seven other rain-makers representing the rest of the Ancient Eight?

11 Secrets revealed! to Cornell Football Team

On Saturday, August 23, I ventured up to Ithaca, New York to speak to the 2008 edition of Cornell University's Football Team--all 100+ of them. While alone on the ride through North Jersey, across the Catskills to 81 North into Deposit, NY, and then the final 32 miles into Ithaca, my mind was overflowing with morsels of memories from days gone by.

So, in the end, I was not alone on my nearly 4-hour car ride. The companionship was both edifying and sentimental as a sun-drenched Western New York countryside reached out to embrace my newest mission at Cornell. I suppose you can say "some friends in high places" had come along just to keep things in perspective.

Good News at Cornell

 Lots of good things happening at Cornell University:

Ed Marinaro will be one of 8 illustrious recipients of the coveted Ivy League Football Association Achievement awards in January of next year. Our dear family friend was humbled at the last black tie extravaganza at the Waldorf in 2007 when the eloquent Jack Ford of Legal TV fame finally proclaimed what all of us know: "Ed Marinaro of Cornell University is the greatest player in Ivy League Football history!" Coming from a former Yale star, the truth brought the SRO crowd to its feet, ... even the guys from Harvard and Princeton.

Ken Blanchard Preaches Parodoxical Patient Persistence at Cornell

The incomparable business book best-seller and most compassionate person in Leadership Development in America, Ken Blanchard, spoke at the Cornell Football Associatiation's 51st annual Ben Mintz Golf and Tennis Tournament this past weekend. Over 500 of us who support Cornell Football marveled at the simple, yet profound nature of his short message on Patience and Persistence!

The Right Choice

A reminiscence from last year that fell into the cracks ...

My first trip back to Cornell for the Ben Mintz/CFA Golf Outing initially met with some resistance. I had not attended previous August events over the years for a variety of excuses.

Then the week before, I was flying into Jersey from Florida to begin a whirlwind week commencing in Newport Rhode Island for a family reunion, and ending with a wedding back in Belleville NJ. 

Sandwiched in between was this stop in Ithaca to attend a golf tournament in which I would not even be playing.

"The Perfect Storm"

Here's a piece of mine about Cornell football from a couple of years ago that disappeared from the blog for a time, and now is found. Enjoy.

A Symbol of Hope

To my readers: The question I always get about Bad News on the Doorstep is, "Hey, Joe, what made you write it?" Well, there are lots of reasons, one of which is the response I was blessed to receive from all over the Cornell Nation when A Symbol of Hope appeared in The Cornell Crescent, the Newsletter for The Cornell Football Association. I hope you enjoy it.

This story began in November of 1970. Today as you read it, it still unfolds. Its essence was a cherished and unspoken private family jewel until January 27, 1997.
On that day, thoughts and words concluded their trek to a wrinkled piece of yellow paper. Finally, a nostalgic memory, that refused to exist without teaching its lessons, was shared with others. We laughed and cried as its resurrection from the depths of our souls was made manifest in the form of a newsletter article at our beloved Cornell University.

A new generation heard an old story with a timeless message. This writer hopes that all who listen to the heart of these recollections will never forget that each of us can be a hero; that regardless of our perceived worth in life, each of us is capable of touching another human at a special time. It is at that time that we may give that life… needed hope. May your heart be warmed and changed as you read … "A Symbol of Hope."