Oh how easily we forget

I am truly in wonder how easily we forget September 11th, 2001. I was working at bytehead at the time and we had just opened the door where customers were already waiting. After helping a few people a gentleman came in and asked if we heard that a plane collided with the world trade center. My first image was one of like a little Cessna, the horror couldn't be imagined.

One of the most resounding aspects of 9/11 was the way the country came together, as one, and were proud of our president as he handled the situation better than anyone I could ever imagine doing in such circumstances.

But sports had an impact on this country like no other. If we remember correctly all sports were canceled for almost the whole week. So let us remember some of the most memorable sporting events directly after 9/11.

The new York rangers played a pre-season hockey game I believe in Dallas, but I could be wrong, when between period 1 and 2 they put the president on the jumbo tron when he addressed the nation a couple of days after the collapse. Everyone in the stadium went silent, the players came out of the locker room early to watch and play did not resume until after President Bush was done.

Do you remember the first nationally televised NFL game? yep it was on Monday night and the packers were playing. We were the first game that everyone in the nation could watch together. Yes there were regional games the day before but this was big, very big. The image of the GB Packer running out on the field before the rest of the players carrying a huge American Flag still gives me goose bumps, I was very proud to be an American and in Wisconsin that night.

Baseball was the sport that brought us all back first, they played the first games and what a better way to start it off than a game in shea stadium where the Mets played the braves. Bottom of the 8th and Mike Piazza his a home run to give the Mets the lead and eventually win the game. It was great for the city of New York.

Lastly and maybe the most chilling was at Yankee stadium durning the world series. The place was packed, the Yankees were on the run for the world series and it was there first home game for the Yankees, truly electric. Nobody expected our president to show up and throw out the first pitch, a symbol to the world that we will get back to normal, we will do what it takes to control terrorism and keep our homeland safe.

It is said the before GW walked out Derek Jeter asked the president where he was going to throw the pitch from? He answered "didn't think about it". See the distance is 60'6", measure that off once and try to throw that. Most people that throw out the first pitch go out about half way to make sure they get it to home plate. On top of that you have to throw from a raised mound, downward 60'6". Six times the height of a basketball hoop, 60'6". So you can only imagine the pressure of being not only the president and the most watched person on earth at that time, walking out to the mound with that ball to throw home. When people see you they go nuts and what do you do? I'll tell you what GW did, he stepped up and threw a strike, down the middle, with some mustard! I can still see him walking toward home plate as the ball arrived to the catcher. chills

People forget how devastating that day was, and the emotion that went into that fact that we were drawn into a war we didn't ask to be in, lets not forget the hours spent in front of the TV getting all the facts, the best we could and lets all remember the pride we had in our president at that time for being.......Well, our president.

click here to remember 9/11, a day that will live in infamy!

At 8:10 PM,  Anonymous said...

Great, great comments on Sept 11! One more thing regarding Pres Bush throwing the first pitch - he had on a bullet vest, so it was very cumbersome - but he did it! Just like you said.

Thanks for helping us remember 9/11!!!

B. Anonymous

 

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