Against the odds; another UCSF success story. . .
A big “Tip of the Hat" to Angel Lozano and Jimmy Arnswald of Traffic Company, Co. K. Solos, and Dave Brandt and Steve Hogan of the fantastic SFPD Marine Unit for their trek up to UCSF Hospital on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 as we made our second visit of the year to some very sick children. We all had a great time, and the kids were as happy as always to see us. We all took turns spending time with the youngsters in the school room and making some bed visits to some very special children who were unable to get out of bed but wanted to participate in the afternoon’s activities.
Bedside visits are indeed very special because it brings a real sense of the vulnerability of these youngsters who are going through some real medical difficulties. Talking to their parents also lends itself to the realities of the heartbreak and fear they go through on a constant basis.
Indeed, we have seen members of our own SFPD Family endure some real heart wrenching experiences with their own children.
But faith, hope, prayer and the incredible advances of medical and other sciences often see the children and their families to recovery and good health.
It is in this sense that a former patient at UCSF (and other hospitals) has blessed us all with an incredible recovery against some might big odds.
I am so very pleased to see Frankie Shouldice (son of Inspector Ronan Shouldice, Crime Scene Investigations) is out of the hospital bed and back into the classroom where every boy Frankie’s age should be!
Frankie’s journey has been the amazing perseverance of a very young boy who had the courage and strength of a thousand men to muster the fortitude and incredible fight to prevail over a dreaded disease.
Frankie’s family was in this fight and in his corner from the very beginning. They were inspirational beyond words and the brightest beacons of light for us all throughout all their battles.
Congratulations, Frankie! We are all so very proud of you. Keep up the great work and always keep up the fight to stay healthy! God bless you, your truly beautiful and wonderful sister and of course, your loving parents…
Thanks so much again to Angel, Jimmy, Dave and Steve for their kindness and generosity. You guy’s really brightened up the days of some wonderful youngsters. You guys are the best!
RBI; more than just a stat . . .
I was very fortunate to have been able to attend a wonderful kick-off
event on Saturday, February 25th. It was held at the local community park just next to Bessie Carmichael School, for this year’s first day of spring baseball. The “Great” Carl T of Central Station and North Beach fame was joined by an equally outstanding group of officers from our department to lend their cumulative baseball knowledge and coaching talents to local neighborhood youngsters as part of a wonderful program called “R.B.I,” which is an acronym for Reviving Baseball in the Inner city.
Reviving Baseball in the Inner city has been an ongoing program in the United States in the past few years, and San Francisco has been blessed to be involved.
Through the tireless efforts of Mr. Jim Messemer, Founder and Executive Director of San Francisco RBI, many boys and girls will have the opportunity to play organized baseball and softball on teams complete with uniforms, coaches and good equipment.
I had the pleasure to meet Jim Messemer and we hit it off right away. We were delighted to learn that we love baseball, love the Yankees (I love the Giants too!) and despise the Red Sox!
As much as Jim loves baseball, he also strives to lead young boys and girls to succeed and grow into responsible young adults. Jim is equally concerned about education and the fundamentals of reading and writing as he is the “hit and run” and “hitting the cut off man.” Jim is a big proponent of literacy through baseball and has taken his program from out in the field to inside the classroom. Jim is also very big on parental participation and encouragement.
As many of us have learned through our own little league and athletic experiences, sports is also an integral part of our life experience. We learn a lot about ourselves as individuals, but we also learn a lot about interaction with others and team building.
What kind of team players are we? As cops, we all know the incredible importance of team work. It is as vital as our own self reliance. For many of us, the camaraderie and “Esprit de Corps” is one of the biggest draws to this profession.
Jim has been very impressed with the level of commitment from the members of our department starting at the top with Chief Suhr.
“Without the level of commitment and support of Chief Suhr and Carl T’s unrelenting dedication in recruiting San Francisco’s FINEST," Jim declared, "we would not be able to meet the coaching needs our program must have to be successful!”
Jim also told me that “We [RBI/SF] are absolutely committed as an organization to the safety of our children. After observing the officers first-hand at the Marucci Sports Event with our children, I know the children are in safe hands!”
“The officers also exemplify the type of positive mentoring we insist upon." Jim continued to say, "I look forward to building on this founding group of officers that have stepped up to support RBI/SF and the children who are the future of this city. Words simply cannot capture how thankful I am for this incredible partnership!”
Joining Carl T in coaching roles is an all-star cast of great guys who personify outstanding level of commitment and dedication to our youth and community.
Doug Tennenbaum (Northern Station) will begin his coaching and managerial career with a local group of aspiring Hall of Fame youngsters before setting his sights on the Big Show and taking over for Bochy and leading the Giants to a string of eight World Series championships.
Joe Fischer (Central station) will be so successful with his team that he will go straight from taking his little league team to an undefeated season to taking over the New York Yankees at the midway point of the season, 12 games behind the Red Sox only to guide the Bronx Bombers to a Division Championship after beating the lowly Red Sox in eight straight games to end the season! Joe is the toast of New York while the entire Red Sox team is traded for Joe’s former little league team…
Nelson Ramos (Southern Station) will win the highly coveted “Coach/Manager of the Year” award and will be instantly named as interim manager of the Chicago Cubs. Nelson sweeps the Windy City with a charm that only Leo Durocher could have ever mustered. Against all odds, Nelson leads the cubbies to their first World Series Championship since 1908 and indeed, “hell freezes over”! Nelson becomes a national icon and is immediately inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Arsnwald (Co. K, Solos) has a tough year and is soon traded by his team to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he leads the “Bums” to their worst record ever. In an exhibition game, Jimmy’s former little league team trounces the Dodgers on national TV and Jimmy goes into hiding only to emerge from the shadows as the next Oakland Raiders coach!…Alas Jimmy’s luck doesn’t change much as the Raiders don’t win a game all season…ever think about hoops, Jim?
Matt Sullivan (Central Station) becomes Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” as Matt leads his little league team to 30 straight victories and watches proudly as all his players graduate with high academic honors and one of his players is eventually elected President of the United States. The newly elected Republican President says to the country that, “…I couldn’t have done it without Coach Matt and names Matt as his Vice-President!
Ryan Jones (Central Station) is the manager/coach of a team which plays flawless defense and doesn’t make an error all season. All of Ryan’s players are .300 hitters and average 14 runs a game. Both the Dodgers and Red Sox are desperate for some kind of successful leadership but Ryan turns both teams down to stay with a real baseball team, his team! Because of his inspiring level of commitment to children and youth, Ryan receives the Nobel Peace Prize. What a guy!
Roley Canales (Tactical / K9) In his first stint as a manger/coach of a little league baseball team, Roley’s team will lead the league with a team high 125 homeruns! Roley shows off his team’s offense power by also stealing 85 bases and only getting caught once. (The ump was blind!) His team goes on to win their first of several Little League World Series Championships in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Seven of Roley’s players go to Harvard and three go to Yale! His star catcher goes on to become a Supreme Court Justice.
Chris Olson (Investigations /Mission) does an outstanding job as Manager/Coach and mentor to some outstanding ballplayers. Eight of Chris’s players go on to major league careers. Six of the eight are also doctors while the two others are astronauts. The two astronauts voyage to the moon in the off season and plant their Little League Championship Flag on the moon! A statue to “Coach Olson” is also unveiled in front of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In all seriousness, a sincere thanks to all the above named coaches for their heartfelt dedication to youth and their love of the greatest game known to man, baseball. I know that these youngsters will learn so much about the fundamentals of baseball from these great guys, and they will also get some positive and fundamental life experience.
On behalf of the department and the association, thanks to you guys and ALL the guys and gals in this department who dedicate their time and talents to our youth.
Each one of you sets a fine example for what young folks should aspire to. Each one of you has a profound influence on these youth. Congratulations and Thank You!
