Sports world shocked by national tragedy

BY JANE GAO AND DARCY WIECKS

National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made history on Thurs., Sept. 13, when he announced that all NFL games for week two of the 2001-02 regular season, scheduled for Sunday and Monday nights, would be cancelled. Tagliabue's momentous decision came two days after the terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, marking the first time the NFL games have been cancelled due to non-labor-related issues.

After the attack, the NFL wrestled with the decision of whether to call off its games. On Thursday afternoon, in a prepared statement, Tagliabue said, "We in the National Football League have decided that our priorities for this weekend are to pause, grieve, and reflect. It is a time to tend to families and neighbors and all those wounded by these horrific acts of terrorism."

The NFL's decision was mirrored by other sports across America. In the professional leagues, NASCAR has cancelled Sunday's Winston Cup race in New Hampshire and its truck race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Indy Racing League's Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday has also been cancelled. Major League Baseball, which had already postponed all games scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday immediately following the attack, extended the postponement Sunday.

In college sports, no Division I-A football games will be played this weekend. A day after announcing they would go ahead with scheduled games, the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 have joined the Pac-Ten, Atlantic Coast, and the Big East in deciding to delay them. Although the Big 10 has not followed suit as a league, all of the 11 schools in the Big 10 have also called off their games. Located in the quarantine zone, New York University has been shut down since Tuesday and has cancelled all of its athletic practices and events through Monday.

'We are experiencing one of the most tragic events in the history of our country. Even if not playing is purely symbolic, it's the right thing to do.' - Football Head Coach Jack Siedlecki

"This is a very busy time," Christopher Bledsoe, NYU's Director of Athletics, Intramurals, and Recreation, said. "We have over 2,000 displaced resident students, many of whom are receiving medical treatment, psychiatric counseling, housing, food, water, clothing, and other assistance here in our facility."

THE IVY LEAGUE HAS STOOD BY THE ANNOUNCE-
ment it made Thursday morning to let each school make its own decision on whether to play, postpone, or cancel the athletic events scheduled through this Sunday. "Each Ivy institution has thought very carefully about how it can best respond to this week's tragedy," Executive Director Jeffrey Orleans said in a prepared statement. "Decisions about athletic events are best made as part of those individual institutional judgments."

Columbia University, which is not located in the quarantine zone, has not wavered from its decision to stick to its weekend schedule of athletic events. "Our university position is that intercollegiate athletics are part of our educational mission," Dr. John Reeves, director of physical education and intercollegiate athletics at Columbia, said. "Therefore, we in intercollegiate athletics will be guided by our academic decisions. As long as classes are being held, practices and competition may, if practical, proceed."

THE ATHLETIC SCENE AT YALE HAS been slightly different from some of its Ivy League counterparts. With football gearing up for its first game of the season and other athletic teams looking to continue their first few opening-game successes, all competition came to a halt on when Yale decided on Tues., Sept. 11 to cancel all athletic events through Sun., Sept. 16.

"The decision was based on the unanimous recommendation of all the captains and coaches," Yale University President Richard Levin, GRD '74 said. "[Athletic Director] Tom [Beckett] was of course involved all along. And I believe almost all of the captains had met with their teams, so that the captains' views were truly representative."

Yale announced its decision to all fall sport athletes on Tuesday afternoon, as the teams met in the Lanman Center instead of heading to the fields for practice. After Beckett announced the University's decision, athletes were asked to comment or ask questions concerning the cancellations. Most team members outwardly supported the decision.

Volleyball player Vanessa Herald, ES '02, felt "the decision was appropriate, as competing in athletic events seems somewhat trivial at the moment."

Women's soccer Captain Sara Ruiz, BR '02, added, "We were all in shock like everyone else about the horrific events of Tuesday morning. I don't feel like anyone is extremely disappointed with the decision to not play."

Football Captain Tim Penna, BK '02, whose team was slated to begin the 2001 season on Sat., Sept. 15, noted that it was especially disappointing not to play because the team had been anticipating the season opener. But he felt that under the circumstances, the decision was appropriate and was a "gesture of respect."

Aside from cancelling athletic events to honor those lost in Tuesday's tragic events, Levin and the athletic department worried about those individuals connected to Yale who may have been affected by the disaster. "Many of these teams have recent graduates who work in the financial district," Levin said. Penna noted his teammates expressed concern about the safety of former Yale athletes and friends and family in the area.

ALTHOUGH BOTH YALE ATHLETES AND COACHES seemed to support the rescheduling, not everyone agreed. Men's soccer Captain Brian Lavin, PC '02, acknowledged that the team was disappointed about not playing. "As Americans, we are horrified by the tragic events that have occurred, and we grieve for both those who lost their lives and their families," he said. "Yet each individual grieves in different ways, and for me personally, I can think of no greater way to honor our dead than by celebrating life and the opportunities we enjoy as Americans and as student-athletes."

Similarly, Penna remarked that there is "a virtue in sticking to a routine and retaining a normal standard." But both Penna and Lavin reiterated that they supported Yale's decision. Ruiz commented that because of the unsettled nature of the entire day, specifically at the meeting, she didn't think that "there was a real consensus on what everyone felt like doing with regards to our competitions this week and weekend." However, she felt that "most people favored not playing if a decision had to be made."

Despite the postponement of intercollegiate competition, practices, meetings, and weightlifting sessions will continue for all athletes. Football Head Coach Jack Siedlecki, along with coaches from several other sports, felt that continuing practices and regularly scheduled workouts provided everyone with a sense of routine. "Our practices have been fine and I think have provided a forum similar to classes and meals for a group to get together with friends and see that we are supporting each other," he said.

Women's golf Head Coach Mary Moan added that although her team would continue practicing, adjustments would be made to accommodate the needs of the players. "If practice means getting together to watch TV or talk about the situation, then that's what we'll do," she said.

Yale coaches stood behind the University and the athletic department's decision and emphasized it was made as a community. Beckett stated that the personnel involved felt suspending athletic competition was "the best thing for the community in general and for the Yale community." Beckett believes that the postponement of the games will "allow the community to focus on its individual needs, the needs of friends and family, and to be there for those affected by the tragedy."

Siedlecki agreed. "To play a game on Saturday, no matter how you tried to acknowledge the tragedy, would appear to trivialize the events of the past few days," he said. "We are experiencing one of the most tragic events in the history of our country. Even if not playing is purely symbolic, I feel it is the right thing to do." Photos courtesy the Chicago Cubs, Sports Publicity.

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