One of the lasting images from Sunday night, after news of Osama bin Laden’s death, came from a ballpark. How fitting.
Phillies fans, at a game that was nationally televised on ESPN, reacted to the news the way, well, probably every stadium would have: with chants of “U-S-A!” The moment greatly overshadowed the game.
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“I got chills hearing that crowd,” New York Mets pitcher Chris Young told reporters after the game. “It’s a historic night and a great victory for the United States.”
Just imagine what it would have been like at Verizon Center had the Caps game lasted a little longer. You would have seen the home team fans, stung by a loss, probably cheer like mad at the news of bin Laden. Certainly, people in this city don’t need perspective when it comes to Sept. 11.
But how appropriate is it that one of the mental snapshots that will linger from this night involved a sporting event? Sporting events served as a diversion as well as a way to thumb our noses at those trying to destroy our way of life.
So the Green Bay Packers charged onto the field on Sept. 21, 2001, to a sea of flag-waving fans. That they whipped the Redskins that night was irrelevant. And that same night the New York Mets played a home game. They won. The healing had begun.
And on Oct. 30, 2001, President George W. Bush received a standing ovation before throwing out the first pitch before a World Series game. Bush wasn’t ducking from anyone, and the applause hammered home a point: Democrat or Republican, we’re on the same team. The time for divisiveness could wait. Unity was needed. Through sports we could express to the world where we stood.
Other means of entertainment helped this country recover, too. But nothing compares to a packed house where varying factions are brought together by the thousands yet united in their belief of this country. Sports unites neighborhoods, cities, races and sexes. Back then, it helped soothe a nation’s wounds.
And when could a New York fan … or a Washington fan … ever say that a Philadelphia crowd gave them goosebumps? Surely, they can say it now.
