Sports, sociology, history
OK, so indulge me for a minute. Let me set the stage for you here. And this is all off the cuff, so don't expect a rough draft of an article. This is just a New York fan's perspective.
It's September 11th in New York, 8 years after THAT September 11th. The day has been blustery and rainy and filled with sorrow and hope, remembrance and growth, and pride.
70 years ago, the Pride of the Yankees set the record for most hits ever for New York's greatest sports franchise ever. Lou Gehrig was one of the classiest men to ever don a uniform, for any team. He gave one of the iconic speeches of our history when he retired, saying that he felt like he had an awful lot to live for, and that he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He died of ALS (since known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) before the age of 40 - a hero.
Tonight, and for the last 8 years, the US has been at war, across the ocean, and some would say at home as well. Tonight, the Twin Tower Lights grace our skyline as a reminder of what we lost, and what we hope for. Today, we paid tribute to the countless heroes, civilian and military, who have kept our hopes alive. Our society has changed in some ways for the better in the last 8 years; and in some ways for the worse. What hasn't changed is our respect for heroes of all kinds, including in sports.
Sports has also morphed, and we are constantly looking for classier athletes; men and women who embody sportsmanship, team concept, role model and respect for fans and the privilege of playing a game.
Tonight, Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig's record for most hits ever by a New York Yankee. He did it on a day when we are remembering heroes. And there really couldn't be a better person to do it. He has been a classy player, citizen and role model for his entire career, going back to high school. He has been active in charities from the beginning. He has one of the best work ethics in all of sports. He eschews the spotlight for the sake of the team (including the opposition) and the game and his causes. He is consistent in technique and manner both. He is biracial - but has never allowed that to become an issue, never allowed the press to spend too much time on it or used it in his messages to the children he touches, though I'm sure for some children it made a positive difference just seeing him out there back in the 90's, when no one had heard of Barack Obama.
On a night when we pay tribute to heroes, as we should every day, Derek Jeter paid his own tribute, by surpassing one Yankees hero, and handling it the way our September 11th heroes did - You can almost hear him saying it: "It's a life changing event, but it's still my job." You can hear him saying, as he always does: "I feel lucky to be here, and I do it for the people." Just like firefighters, police officers, EMT's, and military personnel would say. If it were anyone else but Jeter, you couldn't call a baseball record heroism. The hit itself is not heroism - but the man, reminiscent of the man he surpassed, made it more significant than a statistic.
No matter what you say about professional athletes, New Yorker's attitudes, or sports in general, there is a reason we fans cling so tightly to the games we love. 8 years ago, sports were distraction therapy, as we recovered from a world forever changed, and a perspective we could not handle. Today, tonight, sports gave us a perspective on how much more we can be. How much we can strive for; how we can maintain respect, hope and outstanding citizenship in any number of ways. In the midst of sorrowful remembering and a recommitment to service, baseball and Derek Jeter gave us a moment of joy. And we thank him for this invaluable service. For so many years and moment by moment, just as we have inched forward for the last 8 years.
It's September 11th in New York, 8 years after THAT September 11th. The day has been blustery and rainy and filled with sorrow and hope, remembrance and growth, and pride.
70 years ago, the Pride of the Yankees set the record for most hits ever for New York's greatest sports franchise ever. Lou Gehrig was one of the classiest men to ever don a uniform, for any team. He gave one of the iconic speeches of our history when he retired, saying that he felt like he had an awful lot to live for, and that he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He died of ALS (since known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) before the age of 40 - a hero.
Tonight, and for the last 8 years, the US has been at war, across the ocean, and some would say at home as well. Tonight, the Twin Tower Lights grace our skyline as a reminder of what we lost, and what we hope for. Today, we paid tribute to the countless heroes, civilian and military, who have kept our hopes alive. Our society has changed in some ways for the better in the last 8 years; and in some ways for the worse. What hasn't changed is our respect for heroes of all kinds, including in sports.
Sports has also morphed, and we are constantly looking for classier athletes; men and women who embody sportsmanship, team concept, role model and respect for fans and the privilege of playing a game.
Tonight, Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig's record for most hits ever by a New York Yankee. He did it on a day when we are remembering heroes. And there really couldn't be a better person to do it. He has been a classy player, citizen and role model for his entire career, going back to high school. He has been active in charities from the beginning. He has one of the best work ethics in all of sports. He eschews the spotlight for the sake of the team (including the opposition) and the game and his causes. He is consistent in technique and manner both. He is biracial - but has never allowed that to become an issue, never allowed the press to spend too much time on it or used it in his messages to the children he touches, though I'm sure for some children it made a positive difference just seeing him out there back in the 90's, when no one had heard of Barack Obama.
On a night when we pay tribute to heroes, as we should every day, Derek Jeter paid his own tribute, by surpassing one Yankees hero, and handling it the way our September 11th heroes did - You can almost hear him saying it: "It's a life changing event, but it's still my job." You can hear him saying, as he always does: "I feel lucky to be here, and I do it for the people." Just like firefighters, police officers, EMT's, and military personnel would say. If it were anyone else but Jeter, you couldn't call a baseball record heroism. The hit itself is not heroism - but the man, reminiscent of the man he surpassed, made it more significant than a statistic.
No matter what you say about professional athletes, New Yorker's attitudes, or sports in general, there is a reason we fans cling so tightly to the games we love. 8 years ago, sports were distraction therapy, as we recovered from a world forever changed, and a perspective we could not handle. Today, tonight, sports gave us a perspective on how much more we can be. How much we can strive for; how we can maintain respect, hope and outstanding citizenship in any number of ways. In the midst of sorrowful remembering and a recommitment to service, baseball and Derek Jeter gave us a moment of joy. And we thank him for this invaluable service. For so many years and moment by moment, just as we have inched forward for the last 8 years.