9/11: A Nations Mourns and Heals

Eight years ago we as a nation were devastated with the images of planes flying into buildings and crashing into fields... complete destruction of iconic landmarks and the senseless loss of innocent lives. The September 11 attacks affected us all in different ways. But they affected us all. Maybe you lost a friend or neighbor, maybe you lost a father or mother, a wife or son, maybe you were fortunate and did not lose anyone close to you. But I think everyone lost something. We lost our innocence. This was another benchmark moment in history where you know where you were and what you were doing when this terrible tragedy happened. Pearl Harbor... the Kennedy assassination... the Space Shuttle explosion. We all remember these events and what they did to us as a nation, as a people.

What we learned about 9/11 is that man has incredible capacity for evil and incredible capacity for good as well. The evil does not have to be explained. The good, I will happily explain. The thousands of firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers who selflessly ran into those doomed buildings to try and help strangers to safety. Many of those emergency workers we mourn today. We learned about the bravery of the common man who was thrust into a crazy situation and became a hero when they helped others or tried to help others to safety. There are countless stories about people lending a hand, putting aside their personal concerns.

Sports also helped us through that horrible day and the uncertainty that followed. I remember seeing Bobby Valentine, John Franco and the rest of the Mets loading boxes in the Shea Stadium parking lot. Those boxes were packed with food and supplies and were going to what would now be called "Ground Zero." I remember members of the Yankees, Rangers and the New York Football Giants going down to lower Manhattan to try and brighten what was a very somber mood. I remember Bernie Williams saying all he could do is hug people. He probably thought it was trivial but to those folks (Yankee fans or not) it meant the world.

Then 10 days later, the first New York pro sports event since the attacks. The Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves. Two hated rivals facing each other in September... normally a recipe for nastiness. Not that day! Before the game the teams got together for handshakes and hugs and to exchange gifts. It was a tense situation in the ballpark and stands. Everyone was worried about the possibility of another attack but they also wanted to try and return to some sort of normalcy, to try and get on with their lives.

Mike Piazza's homerun that night gave everyone... I dare say even Braves and Yankees fans... a chance to cheer, a chance to think everything will be all right. Even if it wasn't going to be all right. It was such a cathartic release of emotion... A moment only sports can produce. It proved that we have more in common than we thought.

It was nice for me to see fans in other stadiums around the country holding up signs saying "We love New York." So in the wake of yet another dark moment in our history, sports had a hand in bringing us together. Tonight when you think of the loved ones you lost that day. Be thankful for them and all that they represented to you. Also, be thankful for something as trivial as sports. Many times, it's the tonic for what ails us.