More Than Just a Ballgame
By Jonathan Arkin
Corsair Staff Writer

• After the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, sports nation-wide, specially baseball have a tough task ahead of them, to reunite the nation.

In the jittery, shell-shocked week following the events of September 11, one sport had to be the first to return America to its familiarity and comfort as a nation. That sport was baseball and it was faced with a tough choice, When to return to the World Series? If at all.

Many sports with their seasons in full swing were even contemplating a cancellation of entire schedules to cope with the new tragedy. It was actually President Bush and the mayor of New York, that reassured us that it was fine to start rebuilding, while at the same time enjoying our lives again, and baseball was to bring us back.

A large American flag was unfurled at Dodger Stadium as the voice of Vin Scully resounded through the stadium: "It's time to play ball." The fan attendance was down, but the moments of silence in the days to come were deafening in their solemnity. Fittingly, New York hosted three games of the World Series; and once again, the world's attention was firmly set on the city.

When addressing the United Nations mayor Giuliani once again appealed to the public to enjoy themselves: "There has never been a better time to come to New York City, come, to take a stand against terrorism." At Yankee Stadium, a flag recovered from 'Ground Zero,' the site of the World Trade Center, flew proudly over centerfield as fans were asked to sing "God Bless America" instead of the traditional "Take Me out To the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning 'stretches.'

America was coping, enjoying, cheering, but not forgetting.

Other sports followed similar patterns.

For the National Football League, a timeout of one week meant a layoff of one game per team, giving everyone sufficient time to pause, reflect, mourn and remember.

In Salt Lake City, a winter Olympics was run without major incident; however, spectators were run through a gauntlet of security never before seen at sporting events in this country.

My Tinh Chau, a young woman who was in attendance remembers "huge, long lines of people patiently waiting to get into Temple Square in freezing weather."

While the Lakers were completing yet another championship run, fans at Staples Center complied willingly with a new set of rules that created lines of entry to the venue that rivaled those at the airports. After that initial period of transition, though, the fans returned.

Early this year, the figure skating National championships were held there, as was the WNBA season culminating in a title for the Sparks. All without incident. In an interview with the Corsair, Michael Roth, Director of Communications at Staples Center, pointed out how the responsibility of providing added security after Sept. 11 began immediately.

"We added over $1.5 million in security resources beginning that morning," he said. "Visible elements like metal detectors, two-ton planters, and an augmented video surveillance system and modifications to the ventilation...There's a great sense that so much has been done for their [the fans'] protection that it shouldn't be a worry for them." One year later, attendance figures are still down locally despite a pennant run by both the Dodgers and Anaheim Angels.

Many ballparks, including Yankee Stadium and San Francisco's PacBell Park, plan memorials for Wednesday; however, some students at the College are still worried about attending sporting events on the anniversary of the attacks.

Victor Lobos, a member of the Santa Monica College soccer team, said he wouldn't go. "How shall I put this," he said,"it's changed.You feel uncomfortable...because anything might happen. The guy next to you might be a terrorist."

Jamila Jones, an SMC student and a huge football fan, feels more secure, saying that a sporting event to her is like a family event.

"It's like everyday life," she said, referring to her attendance habits.

Don Nguyen, an SMC business major, said that when he goes to sporting events it's like entertainment, and that Sept. 11 would be no different. "Spontaneous...no fear... just enjoy the game."