Pro athletes honor countrymen

Mets manager Bobby Valentine stayed later than usual at Shea Stadium last weekend. The controversial manager was not bothered by his 3 a.m. departure time, though. He had a team to direct. With professional baseball cancelled on Sat., Sept. 15 and Sun., Sept. 16, Valentine's team had a slightly different look. Restless from days of inactivity and mourning the loss of his good friend in the Tues., Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Valentine volunteered 18 hours helping to direct the volunteers and city workers who collected flashlights, water, food, medicine, and blankets for the relief effort.

MIKE FIALA/NEWSMAKERS Professional athletes have used their week-long vacation to volunteer their time and donate their salaries to the relief effort.

In 30 horrifying minutes, athletes and coaches suddenly found their lines of work significantly less important. "We are entertainers, and I don't think America wants to be entertained now," said Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, who, along with his Steelers teammates, attended the funeral for those who died in the western Pennsylvania crash. Many of sports' biggest names used their unexpected time off to help their fellow Americans in other ways. Whether it was donating money, aiding the relief effort, supporting friends who lost loved ones, or honoring those who died, players, managers, and owners sought to alleviate their own shock and pain by lending a hand to others.

While the Tues., Sept. 11 attacks touched all athletes, New York sports teams felt the pain of the tragedy in a more personal and probing way. New York Giants players were forced to view the smoke-filled New York City skyline from their New Jersey practice facility. Yet the eeriness of the smoke cloud did not prevent them from ferrying across the Hudson River to walk through the rubble and greet weary firefighters and policemen.

The Giants' in-city rivals felt the impact of the attack in a far more personal way. Vinny Testaverde, Curtis Martin, and Wayne Chrebet all lost family or close friends in the attack and they, like many Americans, wanted to absorb the emotional blow of the tragedy with their loved ones. On their behalf, players association representative Kevin Mawae informed the NFL that they would rather forfeit their game against the Raiders than play it in the shadow of the horror inflicted on their close ones and their city.

The Mets and Yankees also played their part, visiting hospitals and armories, listening to the stories of survivors, and supporting family members still searching for their loved ones. Despite his cool demeanor on the field, Yankees CF Bernie Williams found himself at a loss when he saw a woman crying and clutching a photo to her chest. Unsure of what to do, the all-star said, "It looks like you need a hug." Yet the two baseball teams offered more than just affection. Every player and coach on the Mets agreed to donate his paycheck for Friday night's game to the relief fund, an effort that produced $500,000. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner gave $1 million to the Twin Towers Foundation.

Philanthropic efforts extended well beyond New York's city limits. On Wed., Sept. 12, Major League Baseball and its players' association each donated $5 million to establish a relief fund for the victims. The National Hockey League added $500,000 to a fund for perished firefighters and policemen, and the United States Tennis Association gave $1 million to the World Trade Center relief fund. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban matched Steinbrenner by donating $1 million. The Atlanta Falcons used their day off on Tuesday to play a flag football game that should generate $200,000. And in a heartfelt letter to Americans, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling implored all baseball players to donate one game's pay to the victims and relief efforts.

Despite Bettis' words, the players retook the field on Mon., Sept. 17. They did so with the American flag stitched onto their hats and jerseys and the thoughts of the victims inscribed in their hearts.

On Monday night in Pittsburgh, the Mets took the field wearing special hats with the NYPD, EMT, and NYFD logos and received standing ovations from Pirates fans. The Mets won 4-1, but a single image revealed more than the final result. As the Mets closed out the win, winning pitcher John Franco stood in the dugout with tears and sweat caked on his 41-year-old face. A lifetime New Yorker, Franco may have internalized the attacks a little more than most of the players. His son's Little League coach, a firefighter, remains missing. It must have been odd for him to see his teammates honoring New York City's blue-collar workers—for years, he had been the only one doing so, wearing his late father's orange sanitation shirt under his jersey every night.

The man whom pundits say has gotten by on only "guts and guile" is now a symbol for a city and a nation that is doing the same.

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