Cacace at the Bat: Athletes Hurt Along With Us

When the threat of terrorism became a reality fifteen days ago, the events that followed were life-changing in scope.

The outpouring of emotion and compassion that the nation has witnessed in the wake of the recent crisis is truly remarkable.

The sympathy of millions of Americans is evident everywhere one looks, and patriotism seems very much alive.

The world of sports is no different. Nor is the world of sports reporting.

So I ask you to indulge me as I chip in my two cents about our national ordeal, and how it has breathed life into the sports clich of gaining perspective.

For the majority of professional athletes, unfortunate events often serve as a reality check, a reminder that they are not above human concerns.

For instance, when New York Yankee outfielder Bernie Williams father died last spring, it prompted him to do some internal reflection and ultimately helped him put the game into perspective.

Similarly, Eric Davis bout with cancer enabled him to finally recognize the big picture.

These are tragedies, that, everyday Americans deal with, too, in a much quieter fashion. At these times, even the most dedicated sports enthusiasts are sobered into leaving the world of their favorite team and returning to the real world. It is a world dotted with the same death, pain, and tenderness as that of any athlete.

In the past, the athletes loss has somehow always seems more significant, probably due to their prominent place in our culture.

That is not to say that athletes who lose someone or become ill do not merit sympathy. On the contrary, it poignantly illustrates their mortality, a vulnerability that the casualfan seems to usually ignore.

All that has changed now. Over the past two weeks, the sports world has experienced the heartache right along with the rest of us, and they, too, have felt the urge to try and help.

They have been right to do so.

New York Giants coach Jim Fassel was right to honor the bravery of New York City servicemen by sporting their hats last Sunday.

The Yankees were right to pay tribute, albeit a touch melodramatically, to the loss of life during a pre-game event. They were right to celebrate the endurance of the American spirit.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux was right on the mark when he said he felt privileged that he was able to play baseball again, even after turning in a losing effort.

Michael Jordan, who announced yesterday he is returning to the NBA this season, was right in deciding to donate his salary to disaster relief.

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde and the New York Jets were right to make an appearance at the disaster site in downtown Manhattan to buoy the spirits of the workers there.

But lets remember that these athletes were rightnot heroicto do so.

The true heroes are the rescue crews that have and continue to make far greater sacrifices at Ground Zero, as the area in New York has come to be called.

We, as fans and adorers of these pros, need to keep some perspective about ourselves now that the sports world is slowly creeping back into the national consciousness.

Our athletes have certainly displayed true compassion. They have not been the only people to rise to the occasion, however. They have just been some of the more prominent ones.

Any praise we give these athletes must be understood in the proper context. Firefighters, police officers, and relief workers are due more praise (and money, for that matter).

But for now, the clich of gaining perspective means something. As the nation mourns, the cynicism that marked the pro sports world before the events of two weeks ago is experiencing a moratorium of sorts.

Well have to see how long it takes before the next contract squabble occupies our headlines. But if the last week has been any indication, the sports world is learning its lesson and has really begun putting things in perspective.