Reflections 17 Years Ago…

By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor

You can’t forget those events of September 11, 2001.  For the world of sports that was a day when fun and games also went dark with the cancellation of Major League Baseball games and the NFL season was temporarily on hold.

In the end, though, it was sports that once again united this country and the first game played as the nation continued to mourn took place at Shea Stadium. The Mets and Braves were united that evening as a country that needed the unity after the tragic events.

And that morning of September 11th, as this writer stood on the corner of Williamsbridge Road and Morris Park Avenues, and as the events were unfolding. sports was the last thing to be concerned about. There was no time to contemplate who would win a ballgame that evening. There was no time to think about pitching match ups or the lineups.

There was only time to be with someone, anyone who also was following the events and believing that this was a script from a movie and not reality.

And then you hear and watch the Towers fall. The people running for safety and all of the rescue personnel from the NYPD, FDNY, Sanitation, EMS, a city coming together to save lives and realize this was a historic loss of loves on American soil.

Yes, it is in the history books and with hopes it will never happen again.  But sports did continue a a week later and the Mets became a part of unifying people and a nation. A Mike Piazza game winning home run at Shea Stadium delivered that jubilation and there were tears of joy.

There were people embracing others, almost like strangers in the night and done that way because we needed that unity. A nation was united and the world of fun and games, what is called sports, played a major role in bringing back some normalcy to the darkest day and weeks to come in this nation.

Years later we reflect.  And sports still remains the other outlet that diverts attention from the negativity of an everyday society. The loss of lives will always be sorrow, and the thrill of victory and agony of defeat from a game or competition will always be sports.

But the events and those who sacrificed that day of September 11, 2001 will always be remembered. Sports and reflection this day are good. Never forget!

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