I realize this is a bit late in posting on Veterans Day, but it is still appropriate. Over the weekend, I met a US Marine who is getting ready to marry his finance at the Naval Academy in January … just weeks before he plans to ship out for his second tour in Iraq. We chatted many times over the weekend and I got a rare inside look at what is and isn’t going on in Iraq. There were no opinions expressed, just stories told. I enjoyed every second of the time I spent with Jon and thought I may not get another chance to hear from someone who served in Iraq for a long awhile, until today.

I was double-checking schedules (as many of us at D3hoops.com do this time of year) in the Atlantic Region late Sunday night when I ended up on the CUNY Web site. And there was a story about Chris Jaeger, a 22-year-old freshmen for John Jay who has experienced more before he ever cracked open a book in college, than most men will experience in a lifetime. That’s because Jaeger has already served his time in Iraq and witnessed his best friend killed in battle.

I don’t want to ruin the rest of the story for you, but will say it will certainly give you another appreciation for not only the Division III athlete, or a dedicated teammate or determined person, but for our troops in Iraq. Whether you agree or disagree with the political side of the war, our troops are serving the best they can in a very tough and chaotic country. The story of Jaeger will certainly bring a different perspective on who some of those soldiers and marines are. Enjoy:

From the CUNY website:

Four flights over 10th Ave., the soldier-turned-freshman fires up a three-pointer from the left corner, and an instant later, is sprinting 94 feet, forcing a turnover at the other end.

Now here he comes back the other way, tattooed arms pumping, face grimacing from exertion, muscling into rebounding position at the end of a fast break.

There are faster players on the John Jay College basketball team than Bronx-born Chris Jaeger, and better athletes. However, nobody on the team – maybe nobody in the whole city – is better at the transition game.

This is a small excerpt from Wayne Coffey’s Nov. 11, New York Daily News article on John Jay men’s basketball player Chris Jaeger. You may read the complete story on the New York Daily News web site.