Wednesday, Sept. 7
9/11’s Indelible Effect On American Sports
Like so many things, in the immediate aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, professional sports came to a screeching halt. Baseball was in its final stretch, with teams in both leagues fighting for playoff spots, while the NFL season was just getting underway. All games were cancelled or postponed. But unlike so many things, sports play a unique role in the lives of so many Americans. And it was this role that led the heads of Major League Baseball and the National Football League to resume their seasons sooner rather than later. When the games returned, 9/11 was still fresh in everyone's mind. There were moments of silence and pre-game ceremonies, patches for the victims and American flags. But there were also the familiar home runs and strikeouts, tackles and touchdowns that offered people a way to escape the horrors and reminders of that terrible day. With us to reflect on the role sports played in helping the nation heal in the aftermath of 9/11 is our regular sports contributor Bob Lobel.