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 Re: ميدالية ذهبية لأبطال دارفور فى الأولمبياد الشتوية بإيطاليا اليوم !! (Re: Khalid Kodi)
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A man of lettersBy Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports | February 13, 2006
February 13, 2006
Mr. William Fitzsimmons
Dean of Admissions
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dear Mr. Fitzsimmons,
With all due respect, sir, are you stupid?
I have to ask since, apparently, you were the person who denied the application to the Harvard Class of 2010 of one Joey Cheek.
"Turns out they didn't let me in," said Cheek, who at 26 is looking to attend college next fall, said he had a perfect verbal score on his SAT ("I scored north of 1400 total.") and, really, after what he did Monday in Italy, ought to have every school in the country begging for him.
Which is why I have to wonder, if Joey Cheek can't get into Harvard, what the heck are the criteria?
Maybe you forgot his application, so let me remind you. Yes, it is a little unorthodox. He graduated with honors way back in 1997 from Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High School, which, I understand, isn't exactly Choate Rosemary Hall or Andover, but, cut a Southerner a break, will you?
Anyway, he took time to try this speedskating thing, which is also unusual because who speed skates in Greensboro, where ice is only used in sweet tea? But Cheek was an in-line skater with a dream, so he pursued it, even if, as he admits, in the grand scheme of things, speedskating is a little "ridiculous."
"I skate around on ice in tights," he said. The thing is, Monday, over here at this little thing called the Winter Olympics, Cheek skated around in tights faster than anyone in the world.
He won the gold in the 500 meter in a blistering two-race total of 69.76, a whopping .65 seconds faster than silver medalist Dmitry Dorofeyev, who never stood a chance – "only a miracle could do something," he conceded.
Now, we understand speedskating, even gold-medal speedskating, does not get you into Harvard. Consider Dorofeyev, he didn't seem like Harvard material. So, fine, if he applies, deny him.
But Cheek? As impressive as he was on the ice, he was better in the post-race news conference, where he declined to do what every other Olympian does – talk about how great they are.
Instead, he announced he was donating all of his USOC award money ($25,000) to the Right to Play organization, which, according to righttoplay.com, is an "international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world."
The money isn't much, Cheek admitted, but he wanted to use his newfound fleeting fame to raise money and awareness. His personal goal is to get the program into the devastated Darfur region of Sudan.
"If the region can ever stabilize we can go into Sudan and start the program for refugees," he said.
Cheek went on and on about it. He said he researched the organization and is confident of its track record, even meeting with administrators Monday morning. He talked about pressuring sponsors and leading a mission to Africa this summer, you know, before enrolling in school.
Hey, it's not working at Taco Bell to save money for prom, but you'd think it would count for something, right Mr. Fitzsimmons?
And, let me tell you, as a veteran of the Olympic press conference, this was beyond incredible. Usually we are treated to self-indulgent talk, praise for corporate sponsors, outrageous posturing, mostly fake tears and scripted storylines. Not this time.
"The best way I can say thank you is by helping someone," said Cheek. "Rather than take the time to gush about how wonderful I feel, [I wanted] to do something productive."
If this doesn't get you into Harvard, is there hope for anyone?
"I've been out of school 10 years, and they were concerned I couldn't read a sentence or write my name," Cheek said with a smile.
Yeah, he really sounded like a dolt after spending 10 years showing incredible focus, dedication and drive and traveling the world. He wants to study English and economics, but he seems intrigued by everything. He may have a future in politics, even, he said, the presidency.
This guy is something else. It was no coincidence that after he won gold, almost all of his opponents went out of their way to shake his hand or give him a hug. Or that skating fans from around the globe (who know him well from past races) stood and cheered as he gave the American flag a victory lap.
Of course, it probably would have been better if he had just been elected section captain at band camp or something, right Mr. Fitzsimmons?
Oh, and it is not like the guy is some geek. He has a fun side. In his spare time ("you get bored during speedskating training") he learned to build an explosive-powered potato gun out of PVC pipe. You stuff a potato in one end, fill the other with hair spray, make a spark and, boom.
"The potato shoots 300 yards," he smiled.
What, you don't need a guy like that around, what with those MIT pranksters right down the block? And don't you think it would be good for Harvard to have someone who could skate down the frozen Charles River really, really fast? Don't you think, with the gold medal and the good looks, some of the current coeds might find him worthy of admission?
Yes, we know, getting into Harvard is very, very difficult. Lots of valedictorians don't get in. But really, couldn't you go with one less J. Cabot Peabody Winthrop IV? Couldn't you lose the application of one of those sorry C-plus legacies? Couldn't you just cut the quota from Exeter Academy by one?
Seriously, my older sister, Marjorie, actually graduated from Harvard and, sure, I love her and all, but the only thing she's ever done with a lot of ice is make a margarita.
Oh, and don't you (or all those other Harvard Grads) get any satisfaction from the idea you have ruined Cheek's life either. He has other options. I told him I could get him into the University of Massachusetts, which is known as the Harvard of Western Mass. (except, of course, for the other schools that are better), but he seemed to have a backup plan.
Columbia, Stanford, Georgetown, Duke, maybe even Yale.
"I figured I'd try the shotgun approach, maybe hit one," he smiled.
I am hoping it's Yale. Then, when he perfects that potato gun, Mr. Fitzsimmons, he might be within range to send a cross-New England spud right through your window.
Sincerely,
Dan Wetzel
Turin, Italy
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Khalid Kodi
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست