“Watch the woman in the tutu; watch the woman in the tutu,” Odessa Turner shouted to his players on the basketball court. Years ago he was intimidating as a receiver for the football Giants. On April 27 he was coaching a group of ex-pros and friends in a basketball game at the high school gymnasium. They were hoping to raise money for the Fans of America Foundation, a group that supports veterans.
We don’t know why Mr. Turner wanted his players to watch Jami Strauss. Did he consider her a scoring threat? Or did he believe that anyone brave enough to step on the court in such an outfit.deserved extra attention. Five years ago, she played a faculty basketball game with her hair braided like Pipi Longstocking. This time her coiffure was less conspicuous.
She played for a short time in the first half and had a near basket, as her opponents ignored their coach’s advice and let her shoot.
Coach Turner was vocal throughout the first half, cheering every time his team scored and coining a new name for one of his players. Stephen Baker was known as “touchdown maker” when he played for the Giants in 1987-92. But when he scored from behind the arc, his coach and former teammate decided it was time for a change. “Stephen Baker three-point maker,” he shouted with delight.
The visitors’ uniforms all had the number 22 on the back to remind spectators that, on average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. Under the number were the words “until none.” which implied that Fans of America would address the problem until it was eliminated.
Tom Soukup, a 1969 Cornwall graduate, formed the organization “to help veterans with any issues they may encounter after their service.” The April 27 basketball game did not attract enough spectators to be successful as a fund-raiser, but it called attention to the group’s mission, and gave the spectators a night of good entertainment — even when Ms. Strauss was not on the court.
Turner and Baker weren’t the only former pros in the Cornwall gym. Joining them were Gary Brown (a former offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers) and Otis Anderson (who gained more than 10,000 yards in his career as an NFL running back).
