By Nick Stamatakis
I had an excellent long talk with Yiannis Stroumbakis this afternoon. I learned much more about Greek-American football star George Karlaftis becoming this year’s Grand Marshal in our Greek Independence Day Parade on April 14, on Fifth Avenue. The announcement was made yesterday at the Federation of NY “Panomogeniaki” meeting and made everyone—especially the younger among us—very excited! It will be a great honor to have this year’s Superbowl Champion, also known as “Greek Freak II,” in our parade!!
It was a job well done by Yiannis Stroumbakis, especially because he was in the middle of the painful loss of his beloved dad, Stelios, just a few weeks ago… Yiannis explained to me that he talked a couple of times to George Karlaftis. They connected on a very experiential level, including the fascinating fact that both had fathers who were part of the famous Athens Polytechnic (Εθνικό Μετσόβειο Πολυτεχνείο) before coming to America and establishing a career here… George’s dad was a professor there. Stelios Stroumbakis was a student at an earlier time… And so, in the end, accepting the invitation came as a natural outcome – and not as a forced obligation…
The presence of Karlaftis presents us with a great opportunity: To attract our youngest generation close to the community organizations, especially the Federation and its Annual Parade. What an excellent chance we have in our hands to show our youngsters that the Omogenia, after a couple of centuries of active presence in this beautiful country, is a great family with open arms and welcomes all generations, especially the younger, to participate and be proud of their heritage actively!
In addition, Yiannis Stroumbakis explained that he had successfully collected a large sum of donations for the Parade and even more pledges for various events for one more year and would continue the effort until all events were sold out.
I warmly congratulated Yiannis, whom I have been observing for years, as he grew into a successful and effective young community leader. Along with Peter Gerazounis and several others, they constitute our Community’s hopes. The contrast with the miserable old guard, who for a third continuous year are bickering in the court of law and in the court of public opinion, organizing unrealistic elections for one side only and keeping the Stathakeion closed to the community, is very stark.
PHOTO: Two promising community leaders, Peter Gerazounis (left) and Yiannis Stroumbakis…
These internal struggles also underline the failures of our leadership. Any Archbishop, using just his position’s prestige, could easily facilitate the resolution of this conflict in a matter of days or weeks. Not so Elpidophoros, who then wonders why he is called “divisive” by all, and even the government of Greece!! Similar complaints exist for Philip Christopher, who could have contributed to resolving this conflict 16 months ago; he was invited to give a hand when the two opposing sides were very close to making a deal and he refused!! Nobody understands why our community’s so-called “leaders” want to pretend that each is above everyone else…
We hope that both of them, along with the leaders of both bickering sides, will finally come to their senses and agree on a road to the election before this year’s summer. To finally allow the younger generation to take over and lead an organization they have kept inactive for a long time… Our community deserves it.
March 20, 2024, n.stamatakis@aol.com www.helleniscope.com
DISCLAIMER: The views and statements expressed in this article constitute constitutionally protected opinions of this author.
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Andy Reid already has a nickname for new Chiefs DE George Karlaftis
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid wasted no time on Thursday night, giving one of his newest players an apt nickname.
Speaking with reporters during the post-Round 1 press conference, Reid was asked whether Trent McDuffie or George Karlaftis had taken visits with the team. He took that opportunity to assign Karlaftis a fitting moniker.
“That’s a good question. For sure we did not have the ‘Greek Freak II’ in,” Reid said. “We didn’t have him in. You’re going to love him. He’s high‐octane, man. You’re going to love him.”
“The Greek Freak” would be the nickname assigned to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hails from Athens, Greece and earned the nickname because of his size and athleticism. Karlaftis moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, from Athens when he was 13 years old. It also happens to be when he started to play football.
“Looking back on it, it’s pretty crazy to think about,” Karlaftis said of his journey to the US and playing football. “I feel like, in more, generally speaking, I’ve always excelled in sports to a certain extent. Football sort of came natural to me after I had a full year under my belt. I surely fell in love with it. Just looking back on it, I had a crazy, crazy ride. And just like the French say, c’est la vie, right? That’s life.”
Like Antetokounmpo, Karlaftis has great size and athleticism. His college highlight-reel is flashy and it certainly makes you think that he’s fitting for the nickname.
As for his Greek heritage, Karlaftis is something of a unicorn in the NFL. According to Pro Football Reference, via the Chiefs’ post-draft fact sheet, Karlaftis will become just the sixth player born in Greece to ever play a snap in the NFL. Come Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, he’ll join OL Will Rackley (2011‐13), DB Chris Farasopoulos (1971‐74), G Angelo Loukas (1969‐70), G John Maskas (1947‐49) and G Gust Zarnas (1938‐40). There aren’t exactly any Hall of Famers on this list, let alone Pro Bowlers or All-Pros. Karlaftis has an opportunity to perhaps become the most notable NFL player to ever hail from Greece.
Nick , I am glad you mentioned the fact that basically Giannis and George were primarily “Made in Orthodox Greece” in there early years .. not ” Made in America Greeks , like myself or others ! lets hope they can pass on the family values and beliefs of our Great Grandparents who were made in Greece , before they came to the “Made in America Protestant righteous values that have undermined and corrupted the entire world !
Being a Grant Marshall at the Greek parade is and should be a great honor. The Grant Marshall should be a person, Greek, Greek American or even a foreigner with great qualifications, someone who has undoubtedly proven his love and support for Greece and Hellenism in general. After all the parade is to celebrate Greece’s Independence and heritage and to send a strong message to anyone “threatening” it’s future and values.
Being a great American athlete, especially on the top level, is a huge accomplishment. Not enough though to be a Grant Marshall of the Greek Parade. At least not yet. Not until you prove that you are a great Hellene and you become an advocate and great supporter of Hellenism. George Karlaftis has proved to all of us that he is a great athlete. Nothing more than that. As a matter of fact not many of us knew of him before the last Super Bowl! I hope and wish that he will become an “Ambassador” for Hellenism through athletics in the near future. Then he will definitely have the qualifications for being a Grant Marshall. Not until then. This personal opinion is not intended in any way to discredit the excellent work Gianni Stroubakis and others are doing. Gianni has and will continue to have my support as he is becoming a leader in our community.
Niko I agree with you in general but in this case the choice of Karlaftis may have a very positive effect on the Parade by attracting many younger Greek-Americans… But this likely outcome will have no longer term effect with the problems at the Federation. I wish our so-called “leaders” could have agreed on the election process so the older generation finally stay on the side and let the younger take over…
I have to agree with Nikos, however, I am struggling to find any better candidates other than Kariaftis! The entire Geek Independence Day is a fraud ..as we all know !
In reality ..the Grand Marshal of the Greek Independence Day ..should be the Self Proclaimed Marshal of the World ..Joe Biden, Anthony Blinken, Former War hero and Nato Commander of Europe . Greek American..Stavrides who singlehandedly led Greece and Nato forces to destroy the elected government of libya , displace hundreds of thousands of libyan to Europe and Greece ..to righteously preserve the independence of Greece , Cyprus , and Europe !
It is insulting to not recognize any of the above as Grand Marshall of the U.S., Nato and EU caretakirs of Greek Independence..who have protected the Human and Religious rights and Freedoms of Greece and Turkey , and ask for nothing more than what the Persian empire offered of Greece , many years ago …”Your land and Water”