After an almost weeklong hiatus in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States last Tuesday, two of the greatest symbols of the United States and its passion for working hard and “playing hard,” Major League Baseball and the National Football League, resumed close to normal schedules on Monday.
Some sporting events, however, such as the Ryder Cup, which was scheduled to begin in England on September 28th, are postponed until next year. Other events, such as horse races, went ahead and continued to operate on schedule last week, while our nation had barely been able to digest the horrible attacks, let alone begin a period of mourning.
Out of deference for the victims, their families and the rest of the nation deeply affected by the attacks, and in response to the players, coaches and owners who called for a weekend of prayer and reflection, the commissioners of Major League Baseball and the National Football League made the correct decision in postponing all games scheduled for last week. While the commissioners understood that their players would have had their minds elsewhere during the regularly scheduled games, they also realized that our nation needed time to fully comprehend and begin to mourn the victims of the horrible attacks that took place last week before it could attempt to resume and enjoy normal leisure activities?especially sporting events.
On the other hand, the horse racing tracks that remained open for racing and gambling last week made a terrible mistake in continuing as scheduled. Four tracks remained open the day after the attacks, including Delaware Park, while 14 tracks opened their doors last Thursday, and 26 were open for business on Friday. President Bush proclaimed Friday as “a day of prayer and remembrance”?the owners of these tracks should have at least observed one day in memory of the recently deceased and injured.
Now that a week has passed and the nation has come to grips with last week, sporting events should resume as scheduled. The terrorists may have attacked and hurt our country and its citizens, but they can not force us to cower in fear.
It was been suggested that the World Series be cancelled. Maybe it should be cancelled out of deference for those who perished in the attacks or for a nation about to enter into war. It should not, however, be cancelled because of fear. On Monday, The Washington Post quoted a very important point that former President Bush made during the Gulf War. He said, “I am not going to be held a captive in the White House by Saddam Hussein. And you can make a note of that.”
Should security at stadiums and venues be increased? Do we have reason to be nervous at sports venues? Of course security should be tightened, and there is no question in my mind that we, as a nation, will remain skeptical when in heavily populated areas?be it a mall, crowded street or a sports stadium. However, if we lock our doors, crawl under a rock and surrender our freedom to enjoy the little pleasures in life, including sports games, we’re letting the terrorists win. They may have savagely attacked our nation, but we can not allow them to attack our spirit, freedom and desire for recreation and healthy competition. Dating back as far as the inaugural Greek Olympics, sporting events have brought states and nations together in a common bond.
Major sporting events should have been cancelled last week out of deference for those who perished during the horrible attacks on Tuesday and those who spent the weekend waiting and hoping for word of their loved ones. Now, however, as our nation continues to mourn and possibly prepare for war, we need to resume our daily activities and rise above the desire of faceless terrorists to take over our lives and rule our freedom.
