Tuesday, September 11, 2001…8:46 am……Flight 11, heading to Los Angeles from Boston, crashes into the WTC. This moment immediately created a nationwide silence; anticipation of what to come sends fear throughout the United States. NEVER FORGET is the new slogan designed to commemorate those who sacrificed all to save few. Did we forget?
For those directly involved in that horrific day, they will never forget what happened that day; whether it was in New York, Pennsylvania or D.C… Did we forget?
For the sporting world, every event no matter what the sport was cancelled because of 9/11. MLB cancelled all games through Sept. 16th. The Minor Leagues cancelled everything and gave all teams leading their series the title at stake and any teams yet to play shared a championship. PGA golf cancelled their World Golf Championships and never finished them—donated all purses to charity. The NFL postponed all games through Sept. 16th, which caused the Super Bowl to be pushed back until February and it’s never looked back. People forgot about entertainment and focused on the tragedy at hand. But the games still took place, even though they were considerably late, and when they came back they did so in extraordinary fashion.
Stadiums decorated in Red White and Blue, players decked out in American colors and flags spanned across fields of play. Tributes to those lost were held and all spectators shared a moment of camaraderie regardless of who they were rooting for. The games being held after 9/11 weren’t for their respective leagues—they were playing for NYC. Four games come to mind in the sporting world after 9/11….
GM 1: The Atlanta Braves traveled to NY to face the Mets. The Braves would lose that game after Mike Piazza belts a home run off of Queen’s native Steve Karsay late in the 8th inning to give the Mets a 3-2 lead which they kept for the rest of the game. Afterwards, Braves’ Chipper Jones was quoted saying “I didn’t mind a bit. I think each and every one of us will tell you if there’s been one game in our entire careers that we didn’t mind losing, it was that one. You just felt like divine intervention was in New York’s corner that day. We didn’t mind it a bit. We thought it was our duty to go out and take a city and a country’s mind off something terrible that had happened. If it was up to us to go entertain people for three hours, then that was our way of giving something back.” Manager Bobby Cox would later admit that the loss was his favorite Braves/Mets memories.
GM 2: The New York Giants traveled to Kansas City. Although the Giants didn’t play very well that day, they managed to pull off a 13-3 victory—with everyone in Arrowhead behind their cause. “We just wanted to make New York proud,” Coach Jim Fassel said. The Giants/Jets stadium at the time was being used as a staging area for Ground Zero, and most of the Giants players/personnel contributed to the manpower being used in NYC. It was a way for the Giants to give back to NYC, but also a way for workers to give hope to the Giants. “To have those guys hug you and break down on you and actually say, ‘Guys, we need you to play this Sunday. We need you to divert our attention from what is going on here in the city …,’ “said wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, his voice trailing off.”If that doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know what will.”
GM 3: The New York Jets head to Foxboro for a showdown with AFC Rival New England Patriots. Just as the Giants struggled, so did the Jets. They did manage, however, to come out on top 10-3. After the game, Coach Herm Edwards awarded the game ball not to his players, but to the city of New York: “To all the people that have worked and tried to save people’s lives, it’s only fitting that this belongs to them,” Edwards said. Some of the Jets players also spent time in NYC helping out wherever they were needed. Curtis Martin helped loading and unloading suppliers for workers and Vinny Testaverde took time out to talk with workers and rescuers. “What we witnessed a couple of weeks ago was about life or death. Football is about life,” Testaverde said. “I think that’s how sports should be all the time. It’s enjoyment. It’s for us to enjoy.”
GM 4: The annual ARMY/NAVY game. This game may not have taken place until December 1st that year, but the game was one of the most memorable games in Army/Navy history. This wasn’t a football game to these young men. These weren’t just college students playing another NCAA sanctioned football game. These were cadets enrolled into their academies and the armed forces. These men dealt with the aftermath of 9/11 more than any other sports team or player belonging to a team. Up to that point in the season, the two teams played a combined 19 games and won only 2 between them.
Once again though—this wasn’t a game on December 1st. “I don’t even think during that season that it hit us as to what it meant to run out onto the field with the American flag, representing, not only our team and West Point, but really representing the country of the United States,” said Army QB Chad Jenkins. CBS analyst Dick Enberg was quoted saying: “There was nervousness before the game. They may try to fly a plane into the stadium. The president is there. Everyone is a sitting duck in this environment. Who knew?” “I remember the president coming into the locker room. That was something larger than life for us to be able to hear the commander-in-chief and have him come in and speak to us and just, not really giving us words of encouragement but talking about 9/11 and talking about the greater sense of purpose that we had to fulfill upon graduating. I remember a lot of noise, but I didn’t even hear the jets fly over. I remember the noise of the crowd. On the sidelines there were three- and four-star generals. You got a good sense of purpose, that what we were doing was bigger than that one game,” said Army’s RG Alex Moore. No one will remember the 26-17 Army win, but all involved will remember the moment both teams stepped out into Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
These games, along with many, many others, celebrated a light of hope for hope lost after 9/11. Over 3,000 people lost their lives that day and tons more were injured in efforts to rescue others. It didn’t matter who was a rival, or who was hated, everyone gathered together in support for one cause—what has happened since?
The unity that was lived out during the surrounding months after the dreadful attacks ended with the newness of the events as many widows and mourners for family members lost found themselves alone to deal with their issues. The world started to move on where others could not. Memorials services have faded but September 11, 2001 is more than just another moment in history.
The 12th year after 9/11 is upon us; no matter what you have planned, take a moment out to pray, to remember those lost and to those who heroically gave their lives saving others. Above all, find a way to support those still suffering—NEVER FORGET.
