It is a true but sad fact that most people do not think there are many true heroes left in the world. It seems that you cannot turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper these days without finding out how some person that people have looked to as a hero/mentor turns out to be the furthest thing from a hero. Athletes, artists, actors and even clergy have let many people down recently and forced us to take a very long look at how we define the term hero. To me, a hero is not just someone who you read about a few times because they did something nice. I am not looking down upon people who have one or two times when they stepped up to the plate to help some one. I am thankful when anyone chooses to do good. This does not make them all heroes, but rather, they simply did a "heroic" thing.

As you read this one of the few true heroes I have ever met in my life is being slandered and railroaded for purely political reasons by people with very minimal vested interest in our great city. This great man is being tossed aside because once again Dr. Freeley is jealous that some one else may get some credit for helping our students. Real heroes do not look for headlines, Dr. Freeley. They get their satisfaction by simply watching the people they guide and help do well. I have made most of my living since college as a lacrosse coach on many different levels. I can say beyond the shadow of a doubt that my hero has had the greatest influence in my coaching and teaching styles.

I learned how to lead from him, learned how to teach from him and also a lot of what being a man really means. Last spring I was able to live out a lifelong dream by being a member of the CW Post women's lacrosse team coaching staff. We made it all the way to the NCAA final four which has always been a type of Holy Grail to me. I was blessed with hard working and dedicated athletes and by using the things my hero taught me those many years ago the other coaches and I helped the athletes do more than they have ever dreamed possible.

I have no doubt that without his influence I never could have taught my athletes what I did. If you attended one of our games last season it would have been very obvious who had helped mold my style. I tried my best to be just like he was to me. I knew if I did that, the wins and losses would take care of themselves. I dare anyone to ask one of our athletes about these coaching methods and how fair and honest they were. The biggest and most important thing he ever taught me in dealing with both men and women was to treat every one fairly and with respect. He is the single most decent man I have ever met, and I'm guessing you couldn't throw a rock in Glen Cove with out hitting a dozen people who feel the same way I do about him.

In closing I have only this to say: Dr. Freeley, I hope you soon come to grips with the fact that you are not the only person who deserves credit when students do well. Helping and guiding youth is not the popularity contest you seem to think it is. If you want a popularity contest, go back to the Carle Place Schools and run for homecoming queen seeing as your ego seems to need constant stroking. Take your back room deal-making and false sense of political correctness out of Glen Cove. Do you know how many P.C. people it takes to screw in a light bulb? The answer is none, because P.C. people are always in the dark.

Brian Bruce