As TigerBlog wrote the other day, gatherings like the Zoom call with the 1981 Princeton football team have become commonplace. TB hears it all the time - "I was on a Zoom call with my college friends; I was on a Zoom call with my family; My friends from our usual hangout and I are having virtual cocktail parties."
In other words, in a time of isolation, the human spirit is still there, and the desire to stay connected has not gone away at all.
If you want to feel connected to Princeton University and get a really good sense of the people who are charged with keeping it safe, then watch this video:
The relationship between Public Safety and the Department of Athletics has always been very strong and continues to be so. The people in the video are either Fellows with individual teams or huge sports fans, or, in one case, the husband of a Princeton senior athletic administrator.
The video ends with a literal splash, courtesy of England-born Sean Ryder. It features John Barbour with a behind-the-back lacrosse move, not to mention appearances in soccer, field hockey and water polo.
Here's the full lineup:
Det. Jim Lanzi - football
Sgt. John Barbour - water polo
Capt. Kevin Creegan - softball
Sgt. Luke Miller - baseball
Ptl. Maleci Malec - fencing
Sgt. Steve Solovey - track and field
Cpl. Marty Krzywicki - rowing
Sgt. Ted Dima - golf
Sgt. John Barbour - field hockey
Lt. Jason Vacirca - wrestling
Det. Jim Lanzi - basketball
Director Kenneth Strother - squash
Officer David Ziegler - volleyball
Cpl. Marty Krzywicki - ice hockey
Cpl. Kristina Tucker - cross country
Sgt. John Barbour - soccer
Officer Luis Aviles - tennis
Sgt. John Barbour - lacrosse
Sgt. Sean Ryder - swimming and diving
Special recognition goes out to Sgt. Dima, who seemed to get all of that shot with his iron. Also to Sgt. Ryder for being all-in on the video.
And of course to Maleci Malec, for his fencing prowess - and for being married to Karen Malec, who oversees event coverage in the Department of Athletics.
TigerBlog speaks for the entire department when he says thank you to the great people at Public Safety. They don't have an easy job, obviously, but the people in the department TB has met have always carried themselves with great class, professionalism and humor.
They have also formed great relationships with the teams, and TB has heard so many Princeton athletes thank members of Public Safety so many times at banquets and on sidelines.
These days, with the Coronvirus situation, they have been charged with again protecting the campus. Again, it's not easy. What you see in the video is who they are, and Princeton is lucky to have them.
Speaking of people Princeton is lucky to have, there is also Liza Hartofilis.
TB mentioned her last week, when he spoke about her role in a New York City hospital as an ER doctor. At one point, Liza Hartofilis was Liza Hillenbrand, a lacrosse player and two-time NCAA champion at Princeton.
Her husband is Sean Hartofilis, one of the top goal scorers in Princeton men's lacrosse history.
Liza was featured on HBO Real Sports earlier this week as part of a story about how a company that usually manufactures lacrosse helmets has switched on a dime to make face shields to protect against the virus. It's a fascinating piece.
Here's a small piece of it:
That is some genuine emotion right there.This month, #RealSports examines how sports organizations, companies and leagues are coming together to combat the pandemic. Jon Frankel interviews employees from @CascadeLacrosse, who are manufacturing protective gear for health care workers. Tune in tomorrow at 10PM on @HBO. pic.twitter.com/YDbRPqluA8— Real Sports (@RealSportsHBO) April 27, 2020
And again, as the world deals with something on this magnitude, it's important to recognize the heroes.
They come from all different places these days. It's comforting to know they're there.
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