♪ Jenifer McKim: Nine on Greater Boston we will hear from a former baseball player who says he was cut from the team after taking note of racist comments from the head coach.

The will hear from two patients who needed an emergency flight to get them to urgent critical care and one of the Boston MedFlight First responders who saved their lives.

♪ Jenifer McKim: When Cedric Rose was recruited he hoped it would propel him to play in the major leagues but he was abruptly cut from the team and Cedric believes racism played a major role.

That is what he told GBH News Senior Investigative Reporter Phillip Martin: who noted it came after Afghan President 2022 season, he played in 52 out of 58 games and was picked for the All-Star team.

For their part the athletic department told Cedric he was dismissed over a violation of team expectations and philosophy document that all players are required to uphold.

Cedric suspects a diary he kept during his time with her team had something to do with it, he documented a series of insensitive comments made by the head baseball coach Ken Herring.

He found out about the diary shortly before kicking him off of the team.

Philip Martin joins me along with Cedric Rose to share their experiences on and off the team.

Thank you for being here I hope appreciate you taking the time to talk with us.

Tell me what position you play in baseball?

Cedric Rose: thank you for having me.

I play corner, a little bit of first base and third base.

Jenifer McKim: How long have you been playing?

Cedric Rose: since four.

I have been playing my whole life.

Jenifer McKim: Why do you love baseball?

Cedric Rose: it is a fun sport, it teaches me a lot about the real world.

It is a sport where you lose more than you win and it is really -- it helps with the real world and I love the sport.

Jenifer McKim: That is great.

I want to hear a little bit about you started at Lowell and you started riding a diary -- writing a diary, can you tell us why?

Cedric Rose: the things that were going on were not necessary like I did not like them.

It was kind of like irking me a little bit.

I consider it a poking the bear.

A lot of things were being said around me that were just making me super uncomfortable and not just me, other teammates as well.

Just, it was a constant thing and a constant battle I was dealing with.

I started to write things down.

Jenifer McKim: Can you give us some examples of what really bothered you?

Cedric Rose: I remember one time we -- there was a student athlete and I came up to hit and we were hitting with half of the team down below.

I had come in and I was happy and I will go support the baseball team and the first thing that came out of his mouth was so I do not like that.

I was like why?

He said I do not like that.

If you guys want to be treated equally and be treated the same white cannot I come?

Why cannot everyone come?

I said it does not say that you cannot.

He says oh and continues to do what he was doing.

I was excited to do this, there are not many of us on campus there.

It was shot down.

Jenifer McKim: You are saying not many of us, not many African-American kids play on the baseball team?

Cedric Rose: athletes in general.

On the campus there.

Jenifer McKim: I am going to turn over to Philip Martin for a second.

It is so fun to have you here.

A colleague of mine.

Phillip Martin: It is great to be here, thank you.

Jenifer McKim: You wrote about Cedric'’s fight with the school about how there are -- baseball is a particularly hard place for kids of color to play?

Phillip Martin: College baseball, there are few African-Americans playing baseball.

Their numbers have decreased over years even though there are efforts to increase the numbers of black kids playing baseball, those who are not Hispanic about the number is very tiny.

Less than 6%.

You have one school here, you have global playing and the question became you have one of the few African-Americans playing baseball, why would he be kicked off of the team based on the issues that were raised by the coach?

Again, broadening out and looking at the larger issues of baseball, this also translates to.

The professionals.

the fresh translates to the professionals.

College is a feeder for the Major League Baseball out of the minors.

If you cannot have a representation within the college level, it is unlikely you will have that representation in the major-leagues.

It is like anything else with football and basketball.

Young people are drafted and selected right out of their colleges.

Baseball is no different.

You have scouts who look for the best players on the field.

Cedric Rose, we determined was taken out of that -- out of commission essentially before the season started.

He was taken now on the 14th of February, they season started February 18, he did not play a single game in the new season.

Jenifer McKim: I appreciate you expanding on why this matters.

The bigger problem.

Tell us why you believe that you were dismissed because of these notes valued were riding in your diary -- these note you were writing in your diary?

Cedric Rose: it was something to help me get through things.

It was never a problem.

My teammates know about them.

My teammates understood what was going on and a lot of my teammates thought similar to me.

It was never a problem, I had this journal for over a year.

All of a sudden as soon as it gets brought up, that is when everything spirals and then I was kicked off of the team not even a week later.

Jenifer McKim: Somebody told your coach that you had been writing this in your diary.

We reached out to the college and they said that they declined and referred to the one they had already sent before what I'’m going to read right now.

UMass Lowell is committed to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment for its entire campus community.

Just as it does for any allegations of discrimination.

The university is investigating this matter in a prompt, fair, and confidential manner.

What did you find from the University and from others about what they said happened about why he was dismissed?

Phillip Martin: The University seems to dismiss the notion that Ken Herrick'’s attitude and his behavior towards Cedric was a problem.

They believe that they asserted through various parents groups are others that they thought it was -- the problem was because he had disrupted the team through a number of acts.

One in which he admits which was he after a meeting he tore up his room.

Later he said he repair the damage to that room but this was cited as one of the reasons why he was kicked off the team.

It was the cart before the horse because he tore up his room after he learned that he would be in some type of trouble with the team, possibly even be kicked off of the team.

It is also alleged that he used rap music to intimidate his roommates.

It is also understood that rap music was something that is pervasive throughout the campus including within the locker room of the baseball team.

It is not clear why, one parent who came to the defense of Ken Herring and Draper and said the racism is not an issue in any of this and that she did not see Ken Herrick'’s actions of being the cause of Cedric being kicked off the team but felt that it was Cedric'’s actions that led him to be kicked off the team.

It was a he said and she said.

That is why we have an independent investigation looking into the allegations that Ken Herring may have engaged in racism and the dialect in his decision to be kicked off of the team.

Jenifer McKim: How do you feel about these allegations about rap music being played too loudly or that this reaction was the reason you got kicked off?

Cedric Rose: I just, I mean, music is something that I have lived my life with.

These allegations are coming from a roommate of mine that I listened to all types of music with.

We would have concerts all the time.

There were people who lived above us who would hear us playing music and they would stop on the floors because it is too loud.

Music has always been a big thing for us.

It is kind of like it does not really make sense.

It does not.

Jenifer McKim: When is the investigation expected to be completed?

Phillip Martin: Very soon.

It could be as soon as this week.

It is not clear, the University did decide that they would do further matter to an outside investigator.

Feeling anything that took place within the school would be suspect.

The -- they did find merit to begin an investigation.

An investigation would not have begun unless they saw something in the allegations or deeper into their look into the baseball team that merited looking closer into the allegations.

Jenifer McKim: My understanding is that your lawyer, how did you find a lawyer?

How did this,?

Cedric Rose: we did not know where to start.

It was my mother, she kind of backpacked this, she has the most wonderful woman of all time, and my father tackled this and they found out a lot of information that helped us out.

We did not really know where to start.

We reached out to the NAACP in Boston and that is what we found a lawyer.

Jenifer McKim: My understanding is that he says he will be filing a lawsuit whatever the investigation result is?

Do you support that?

Why do you think that is important?

Cedric Rose: I think it is important to get justice.

There is a lot of people like me , a lot of people who want to be in my shoes that could potentially be facing this.

That is -- this is not something I want anybody else to live through.

It has been tough and challenging and they have to get to play baseball again.

It is really hard mentally.

Justice needs to be served.

So that a lie can sign -- so a light can shine on this.

Jenifer McKim: That is admirable.

What are you up to now?

Cedric Rose: I am playing baseball, I am playing collegiate baseball, it is also because of teams in my hometown -- because the team is in my hometown.

I am in Vermont and we have a game tonight and then I will be playing here the whole summer.

Hopefully I can get some scouts and some eyes on me and put some numbers up and find a home for next year.

Jenifer McKim: You graduated from global?

-- lowell?

In what?

Cedric Rose: economics.

Jenifer McKim: Fantastic.

You took this on because you said that it has bigger implications?

Talk to me about why you took on the story and he did such a nuanced piece?

Phillip Martin: It is not just about Cedric Rose, it is about a young man'’s dream, it is about a coach who basically had a lot of power and has a lot of power.

How do you essentially look at something like baseball and see it -- baseball is America'’s game and what we are seeing with Cedric Rose may be a microcosm of something else, a young man who wanted to play baseball'’s dream being shattered by this event and the issue of race, not determined definitively what exactly what happened but clearly, there is a cultural issue, a cultural clash between Cedric Rose'’s perceptions of his role on the team and that of the coach.

Race without question plays a role in this antiracism is yet to be determined but race without question is a part of this and part of the dynamics also are the small numbers, the tiny number of black players in baseball.

Particularly collegiate baseball.

That translates into Major League Baseball.

That becomes the most relevant aspects of this.

One thing I would mention that is actually important is that another aspect of the team is again perceptions of what is offensive.

Last year, apparently a comedian was hired to come to a team fundraiser.

The comedian engaged in racist jokes.

They were targeting Cedric Rose'’s father, a series of jokes targeted at him and the father out of the family said they were humiliated by that -- and the family said they were humiliated by that.

I heard the coach apologized but Cedric and his father did not see the apology as fulfilling.

They wondered why this comedian was at the event in the first place.

Jenifer McKim: Exactly.

That is -- I read that in the story and that is pretty startling.

We are looking forward to your following this.

We will see you continuing your reporting?

Phillip Martin: Expect to hear from us, the attorney at Burley have litigated for the NAACP.

They have taken this case in private doctors for the Rose family -- practice for the Rose family.

They are going to bring a civil complaint in the federal court in the next three days.

Jenifer McKim: Best of luck, in everything you do in the future.

Cedric Rose: thank you so much, you guys have a wonderful day.

Jenifer McKim: Every situation is a life or death situation for the first responders behind the nonprofit Boston MedFlight.

The 40 year old organization transports critically hurt or ill patients to lifesaving care.

The nonprofit host a reunion to give former patients the chance to meet the team that saved their lives.

I am joined by two former patients Dr. Jeffrey Wisch Who was transported twice in June of 2017 and his wife Cindy Wisch who was transported a year later in July 2018.

We also have the director of aviation operations for MedFlight, Mark Onorato.

Thank you for being here.

We appreciate it.

After reading your stories or learning a little bit I cannot decide whether you are the luckiest people or the unluckiest people in the world!

Being saved three times in one couple.

If we could start with you if you could tell me, as much as feel comfortable, we could be talking about health conversations but tell me a little bit about how you ended up being saved twice?

Where, when?

What happened?

Dr. Jeffrey Wisch: We were vacationing and we were on the Cape and we went out to our favorite ice cream shop with my wife and my two sons and I started to feel somewhat dizzy and I said you guys go back to the car and I sat down in the car and I noticed that I was really sitting in a pool of blood.

I said I think we have to go to the hospital.

I am a physician so I kinda figured that out pretty quickly.

We went to a local hospital and it became clear I was having a major life-threatening intestinal bleed.

At that point, I was receiving multiple transfusions and it was clear it was difficult to get this bleed under control.

That is when MedFlight Was called in because it became clear after a number of units of blood that I needed to get to a higher level of critical care.

At that point, as I recall, I did not have a significant blood pressure and things were not looking pretty good.

Boston MedFlight Came on the scene and the first person I saw was Kristin who was the critical care nurse.

She introduced herself and said I'’m here to take care of you.

And assess the situation and what was remarkable about this entire experience and why my life is out entirely to this incredible group of health care professionals is because as they were rolling me out to the helicopter, she said let me just check your blood pressure one more time.

She checked my blood pressure and all of a sudden I saw a look on her face they did not look good and that I cannot take you.

I said why not?

You do not have a recordable blood pressure and I cannot take you if you are not stable.

I said Kristin, this is not good as a physician I'’m telling you this is not good!

I think I'’m going to die!

She verified the situation again and she said well, let me grab another unit of blood and actually at that time you guys are not routinely using blood which she said let us take another unit of blood which was available and she said you may have to give me an agent we use in the battlefield, to help stop bleeding.

You could have a stroke or heart attack.

Is it I worry about that later -- I said I will worry about that later!

They took a real chance because from her perspective, I was not as stable as she wanted me to be.

The flight went off.

The next thing that was significant the bleeding had stopped somewhat but we were about five minutes out and Larry who was the critical-care paramedic who was at my side, I had difficulty breathing.

I knew something was not right.

I say could you turn the oxygen up more.

He said it is as high as it can go.

Just grabbed my hand and hold on, we are three or four minutes out.

If you start to bleed again you have no blood pressure.

I think I was really the most fearful for me because I was minutes out and I was thinking pretty quickly.

We landed at the Brigham woman'’s hospital where the team and it was a ballet.

They handed me off and I was up in the ICU for three days and thankfully everything turned out well after the first flight.

Jenifer McKim: An amazing, harrowing story and I am so glad you are able to tell it.

I would love to hear more but for the amount of time we have and so many stories to hear, Cindy, you also had an experience being saved by the same nonprofit?

Can you tell us your story?

Cindy Wisch: we had this sale to Nantucket Harbor and I missed a step and I dislocated a few ribs.

They were concerned about blood going into my chest.

The coast got me to the land -- guide got me to the land and they knew at the hospital that I needed to be in Boston.

I was airlifted by this gentleman and the compassion and the ability to know what they were doing was extraordinary.

I would cross an ocean and I didn'’t want to get up into a helicopter.

I did and they all made it worthwhile.

Obviously made it worthwhile but they made it with such extraordinary care.

My story about the handholding is also the nurse was saying to me, do you need any more because I was in a lot of pain and I had medication and I said just Hold My Hand.

This young man took my hand and he just held it all the way to the Brigham.

And made it all unbelievably -- that human touch.

That is how they do it.

Jenifer McKim: That is really quite remarkable.

The other thing about the organization is also that you also have this reunion that is part of the tradition and you meet the people who saved you.

Who did not go to the last time you have been other years -- you two did not go the last time but you have been other years?

Cindy Wisch: we still hug!

We got to meet the pilot.

Jenifer McKim: When did you meet Mr. onorato?

Mark Onorato: 2019?

Interesting thing is from our perspective, we are charged with the critical care sport system brings the right vehicle to the right patient at the right time outand we cannot recognize the patient as they are being treated.

In the reunion they were nametags as duly and then we look for matches.

I was able to see the crew was myself and transport nurse and a paramedic.

We were able to connect and they I remember the story now.

The patient reunions are very rewarding I think for both.

Jenifer McKim: Why does it make you feel so good?

Mark Onorato: it gives the personnel some closure to say look how good our patients are doing.

Then, I cannot speak for the patients but just that I remember you now although you gave me a lot of medicine not to remember me then.

It is a good closure for both of us to reunite and say the system works.

Jenifer McKim: How long have you worked there?

Mark Onorato: six years August 1.

Jenifer McKim: What makes Boston midflight special for you?

Mark Onorato: I came from a military background, public service background and I think as a nonprofit, it is still unity service that we provide, a for the community that is unmatched across the industry.

Jenifer McKim: If you need help and you do not have the money to pay for it or insurance of the organization will cover it?

Mark Onorato: correct, we treat patients regardless of ability to pay and in fact, almost $7 million per year in reimbursed at uncompensated medical care is provided by Boston MedFlight.

The consortium hospitals are more concerned about treating the patient and getting the patient to the right level of treatment and they worry about the payment afterwards Jenifer McKim: Where does this money come from?

Mark Onorato: charitable organizations, we take donations and a big part of the organization is that and the consortium teaching hospitals that are in the consortium, if there is a Delta at the end of the year they make up the Delta to provide the service to the community.

Jenifer McKim: I know that you folks have spoken on behalf of the organization before.

Why is it important to tell the stories?

Dr. Jeffrey Wisch: If you do not know about it, you do not know about it until you need it.

There is no doubt in my mind I would not be sitting here today without these folks and they are picking people off of highways, the vineyard, Nantucket.

It is a critical organization which remarkably does not require payment from patients regardless of who you are and I feel like it is an extremely important philanthropic need that we need to continue reminding people of.

You do not think about it until you need it.

Then it is lifesaving.

Cindy Wisch: that is it.

We are healthy individuals and we are active and this happened to us.

People think somebody had to be sickly or something to get picked up, it is an accident.

It can happen to anybody.

To have someone pick you up and take you to the hospital is pretty impressive.

With the care, and the professionalism.

Cindy Wisch: it is really important to point out.

MedFlight I have been in medicine for 40 years --Dr. Jeffrey Wisch: I have been in medicine for 40 years, being able to sustain'’s Mono life and move this on to owning one'’s hand and offer an support is powerful.

For me, certainly, something that made a big difference and these folks are trained to do both and they do incredibly well.

Jenifer McKim: Thank you so much for coming tonight and telling these stories and thank you for your service and doing this type of work.

I hope all of us have the chance to have something like that if we need that type of help.

Cindy Wisch: thank you.

Dr. Jeffrey Wisch: Thank you.

Jenifer McKim: That is it for tonight, come back tomorrow, a local couple you may have heard of, take talkers -- TikTokers who are amassing a major following while describing their cultural differences.

Good night.

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