Perspective is a hard thing to achieve for any pro athlete involved in a playoff series. This is their career, their livelihood. They have trained for these postseason moments all of their lives. But driving through the streets of Washington on Sunday night – only an hour or so after a devastating Eastern Conference semifinal loss to Tampa Bay – the Capitals were given an ample dose of perspective on the way home from Verizon Center.
As a flood of people walked towards the White House to celebrate the death of 9-11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, it was a not-so-subtle reminder that sports – while important to those who play the games and cover the games and watch the games – still pale in comparison to real-life events.
“You’re home and you’re miserable about the game and just sitting there and the phone starts pinging,” Caps forward Mike Knuble said. “My brother was telling me about it, then you flip on the TV and it’s certainly something else. It was certainly a moment that I think a lot of us will remember, in your life when you found out this event. Kind of puts things in perspective when you see the families talking about closure, nine, 10 years of agony and things finally being closed up.”
Knuble is one of four Americans on the team. The rest of the Caps come from all over – Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany and, of course, Canada. Osama bin Laden’s attacks happened here. But his legacy of terror – and the War on Terror it spawned – affects people the world over.
“I got home, my wife has it on the news. You kind of forget about the game for a bit,” said Caps forward Jason Chimera, a native of Edmonton, Alberta. “It’s pretty drastic news, that’s for sure. I remember that day vividly. I was in Canada at the time, but you were just in shock and awe at what happened. Your hearts went out to the families and hopefully that brings a little bit of peace to those people. It’s only one step, but I think it’s a big step for all the guys over there too. I think it’s a big mental lift for all those guys over there, too.”
Brooks Laich – a native of Wawota, Saskatchewan – wondered why he had a text from his brother asking ‘If it was crazy down by the White House?’ when he arrived back at his Virginia home after the Tampa Bay loss. Laich couldn’t understand why Caps fans would be celebrating at a national landmark after that disappointing performance. His brother set him straight.
“It certainly for the U.S. is a big step and I hope it brings a lot of closure to the people that were directly affected and indirectly affected by that,” Laich said. “It’s world news obviously and probably a little more important than what we’re involved in. I’m sure our guys read the papers and saw the clips on [television] today. But our focus is still going to be on hockey.”
Of course, Caps coach Bruce Boudreau has his own unique perspective on 9-11. He had a ticket and a seat on United Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles that morning. As a head coach with the Los Angeles Kings’ new minor-league affiliate in Manchester, New Hampshire, Boudreau was headed to California for some preseason organizational meetings. But just a few days before the team changed his flight to Monday night so he would arrive in Los Angeles rested for a full day of meetings on Sept. 11. That last-minute switch inadvertently saved his life. But Kings scout – and good friend – Ace Bailey, himself a former Caps player, wasn’t so lucky. He died when Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center the next morning.
Boudreau didn’t see any of the celebrations on his route home Sunday night. He was lost in thought about his team falling behind 2-0 in a playoff series with two road games looming. This is his career, after all. It can never be just another sporting event to those directly involved.
“No. I was only thinking about the game,” Boudreau said. “Believe me, I’m conscientious about what went on… I do, but I’m not thinking about that right now. I’ll let the rest of the world think about it.”
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