BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -The New York Yankees made a pilgrimage Tuesday to the Virginia Tech memorial dedicated to the campus shooting victims. Along with about 200 onlookers, the Yankees viewed 32 stone memorials to the victims of the shooting rampage on April 16 at the Blacksburg campus. The players were dressed in street clothes as they filed past the stones, then paused to look toward the classroom building where all but two of the gunman's victims were slain. Tech President Charles Steger briefly addressed the players. The Yankees were to play Virginia Tech later Tuesday in an exhibition game. In May, the Yankees made a $1 million contribution to the Virginia Tech "Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. " The fund is designed to cover grief counseling, memorials and other costs for the victims and their families. Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people in two campus buildings before committing suicide. Students who came to see the Yankees said the players will help the healing process on campus. "It gets our minds off what happened for a while," said Led Smith, a sophomore from Parsippany, N.J. Alex Rodriguez said visiting the memorial was powerful. "There are certain things that happen that are so devastating that time stops," he said. "For me, this is one of them. This is probably the proudest day I've ever (had) to wear a Yankee uniform." Derek Jeter also attended the event and will play in the exhibition. "People always ask, 'Well, what can you do? How does this help?' I really don't know," Jeter said. "If it just makes people smile or enjoy themselves for the three hours that we're here, it's all worthwhile." Matt Weaver, a sophomore from Springfield, Va., said he and his father attended the Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox when the $1 million gift was announced. He said that experience made him realize how many people were affected by the mass shootings. Dave Wechtaluk, of Elmira, N.Y, was impressed by the generosity of George Steinbrenner and the presence of the Yankees. Wechtaluk, whose wife is a faculty member and son attends Tech, was happy about the visit for the students' sake. "You look at these young people. They've grown up awfully fast," he said. ---= AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz in Blacksburg, Va., contributed to this report.
Jason Giambi Seriously, this is exactly the kind of thing that transcends sports and raises to the highest level my respect for George Steinbrenner and the Yankee organization. We will continue to needle George Krebs in the spirit of fun, but this has forever changed my feelings in a very positive way about the Yankees.
re: Giambi LOL, Sid! As far as Steinbrenner, I've always liked the guy. He does things his way, and unapologetically. I've read in the past that he funds quite a few scholarships. In my back yard next to the trunk of a camphor laurel I have a bronze lawn ornament that's a frog wearing a crown. I named it "King George".
BDR, George - as every good Ohio boy should be - is quite a generous booster providing scholarships and building funds for a variety of Buckeye programs - athletic and non-athletic as well. During our recent stadium renovation, he funded a wonderful home for the marching band in honor of his wife....
For as easy as it is to not like the Yankees for no good reason, Steinbrenner seems to be a pretty charitable guy. He's the primary donor for UF's new marching band practice facility (http://www.facilities.ufl.edu/facilities/viewprj.php?prj=1054). The other big donor is Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I think Steinbrenner also sponsors some of the youth programs we help with at the Florida State Fair. I can't find that sponsor list in print, but it's what I've always heard. And it makes sense with the Yankees Spring Training right there in Tampa that he would be involved with other local programs.
So it's pretty clear he likes Marching Bands, with halls at Ohio State and UF!! I wonder if he started in River City?