Osama, 9/11 and Sports

Shea Stadium a week after 9/11

By now everyone has heard the news that the United States conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. President Barack Obama informed the nation at about 11:45 p.m. on May 2nd and it is one of those moments that you will always remember where you were. Although the war on terrorism is far from over, the killing of bin Laden, and the reaction of the American people, is a symbol of the continued healing America is going through nearly 10 years after the horrific events of September 11th, 2001. For those who lost loved ones that day it is a bittersweet moment. President Obama said it is "a good day" for America, but it is also one that brings back those haunting images and memories of what happened to the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon and in an empty field in Pennsylvania.

Where does sports fit into all of this? We get so worked up over a silly little game that, in the grand scheme of things, means nothing. However, after the 9/11 attacks sports took a week off as our nation began the recovery. When baseball took the field again one week later, people were moved by the New York Yankees and Mets who wore New York Fire Department and Police Department hats during their games. A moment of silence was taken before every game and baseball seemed to be part of that healing process. Especially for fans in New York, it was three hours where they could escape from everything else that was going on around them. Of course, nothing could make someone forget about the events that had occurred a week before, but baseball served as a short distraction for a nation that was hurting.

It was a day that everyone remembers where they were. On September 11th, 2001 I was riding the school bus to fourth grade when I noticed that nobody was outside playing on the playground like we normally did before school. The bus driver said that we couldn't go outside and we needed to go straight in to the gym. Later on we saw the events on television and those images will forever be seared into our minds. In contrast to that, last night's message is another event that we will always remember where we were. Going back to sports, the scene in Philadelphia was touching as the Mets and Phillies played on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. News spread throughout the stadium about the killing of bin Laden and fans chanted, "U-S-A! U-S-A!" The players looked around and had no idea what was happening but the scene was one that will leave you with goosebumps. David Wright, Mets third baseman, said afterward, "As proud and as great as the moment was being on a baseball field -- you multiply that by a million and that's probably what they're feeling at the fire houses, at the police stations." Bobby Valentine was commentating the game and said he would never forget that moment or the feeling he had when he was manager of the Mets in '01 and they took the field for the first time after the attacks.

In the big picture sports are a small thing but they have proven to be a healing factor and, as last night showed in Philly, a group of people can come together, no matter what team they root for, and be one as a nation. Thousands at the ballpark stopped caring about the baseball game on the field and shifted their attention to more important matters. At a time when fan violence is at an all-time high and people are ending up in the hospital just because of what team they root for, it was a great feeling to see fans of two teams come together and cheer for America. Americans all over have a good feeling after the death of the mastermind behind 9/11 but let us never forget those who were lost on that terrible day. God Bless America.

The link below describes the fan reaction in Philadelphia.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6463361

Photo courtesy of New York Daily News