So I didn't want to write about 9/11 on its' 5th anniversary. There really was no logic to why, other than I just felt like it was something I wanted to avoid doing. There have been enough testimonials, and other pieces, that I didn't think I could add much to it. I must say, the 5th anniversary has been quite a revelation to me, as I think the nation collectively "got it right": making sure to venerate its' importance, but without over-indulging.
That being said, I would like to talk about 9/21. Now, I will readily admit perhaps it is not fair for me to honor 9/21 as I am about to, but...well...this is my blog, and this is something that meant something to me, so there we have it! lol
After 9/11 all professional sports leagues in America shut down. When President Kennedy was killed the NFL decided to continue and play its' schedule, which some people claim was a decision that severely hurt its' popularity. With that backdrop, no professional league wanted to take such a risk. MLB ended the rest of the weeks schedule, and the NFL decided to do so as well.
So it was the following Tuesday 9/18 when professional sports came back to America, but not in New York. The Mets were in Philadelphia, and the Yankees were elsewhere. It was 9/21 when the Braves came to Shea, which was essentially the first Baseball game in New York after 9/11 (I must add that if I recall properly, it was the Rangers who were the first New York sports franchise to have a game played in New York, but that was pre-season...and well it's Hockey).
I was reminded of the importance of that day yesterday, as SNY (the Mets channel) replayed that game, and all the ceremonies and festivities that went along with it.
But first a backdrop. It was important for the first game to be the Mets. Though I bet Yankees fans will disagree, it is the Mets who symbolize the common man of New York, and therefore are truly "New York's team". Moreover, Shea Stadium was the ACTUAL STAGING GROUND for all 9/11 relief work being done, so the location was directly connected to 9/11 as every fire truck and ambulance ended up at Shea stadium that infamous day.
The stadium was packed, which isn't surprising as it was a game versus the Atlanta Braves in September during a pennant race. Even before 9/11 the Mets had made a bit of a stir. 13 1/2 games back on August 17th, on September 11th, they had reduced the lead to something like 5 games (if I recall properly). They were the hottest team in Baseball. The stadium had a very eery feel to it. The crowd roared when hearing Diana Ross sing "God Bless America", as well as all the other pomp and circumstance that the Mets revealed in their opening ceremony, however, for much of the rest of the game, it was quiet. I can not describe the atmosphere completely, as it was almost like a "what should we do" quiet, which is just unheard of at Shea, as Mets fans are very knowledeable about their Baseball. It was a 1-1 tie, a very close tight game, and yet fans seemed "lost" (I guess that's the best word for it).
All that changed during the 7th inning stretch. Liza Manelli came out with a NYPD officer and an NYFD officer (one in each arm) and did a rendition of "New York, New York" that electrified the crowd. It was alive, and you could hear the emotion returning.
Yet that was nothing compared to the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th inning the Braves scored a run to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, Edgardo Alfonzo was able to get a 2 out single which allowed "The Pizza Delivery Man" Mike Piazza to bat...
I have seen many games in my life, and when it all comes down to it, these things are just entertainment. True, you can find/place meaning in anything you want, so I guess it is unfair to say things are "just" anything, but still, most of the games I've watched in my life were just that, games.
There are the rare ones though, and Baseball has had its' share. Regardless of what your opinion of the sport is, one can not deny that 715 meant something, or that the ball going through Buckner's legs did not rip the heart out of a 'nation' (Red Sox Nation), or that on the first night back after 9/11 in New York, when Mike Piazza hit a towering home run deep into left-center field giving the Mets a 3-2 lead, that the collective gasp, sigh, scream, and sheer exstacy that Shea Stadium let out did not mean something! 55,000 individuals let out a sound, and an energy I can not even phathom. I saw it again yesterday, and it still made me shiver...such was the power and force of that moment.
Unfortunately the Mets were not able to make the playoffs, but the Yankees did. There is an interesting documentary called "9 Innings to 9/11" which talks about the subject of Baseball and 9/11 including that night of 9/21, but also the World Series the Yankees participated in (especially games 4 and 5 where the Yankees won it on walk-off homers). I would highly recommend it (though I wish they focused more on 9/21). It takes real people and shows how they directly were affected and effected by these games (especially the WS games). How the games were able to let them feel happy again, and let them feel normal again.
I do not mean to belittle 9/11 by highlighting the night of 9/21, but rather to focus on two things: 1. that Baseball played a huge part in the nations healing (as it always does) and 2. more importantly, that sometimes even the small "insignificant" things in life can mean so VERY much, if we only let them.
