I remember it vividly. I went to bed on September 10, 2001 after watching a Monday night football game between the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey had suffered a gruesome broken leg and being the friend I am, I e-mailed Rob Vanstone (McCaffrey's biggest fan) to rag on him a little. Little did I know when I went to bed that night that things would change.
The phone woke me up that Tuesday morning. It was then CJME sports director Dale Isaac. He left a message saying I had to phone him a-s-a-p and if I had a phone number for Regina Pats captain Garth Murray who was at the training camp of the New York Rangers. Before turning on the TV or the radio, I phoned Dale to tell him where the number was and why seeing I had just talked to him a couple of days before. Dale just said to turn on the TV and that is it was worse than any movie disaster. I turned on TV and sat spellbound. I couldn't believe what had happened and what I was seeing. This isn't happening, this couldn't be happening, it is happening. Its a day that anyone who was in the media--news or sports--will never forget.
10 years later, it is still unfathomable to think that what happened that day happened and how our world has changed. I didn't know any of the 27 hundred people that died that day because of the attacks, but I think of my hometown of Indian Head and how the population of the town is 18 hundred and some. That's the town and a half being killed in an instant. As I watch the programs commemorating what happened, I can't help but wonder what was going through the minds of those on the planes knowing their lives were coming to an end.
My eight year old daughter saw footage of the 2nd plane crashing into the World Trade Center and the buildings collapsing this week. She asked so innocently why the building crashed down and what happened to everyone inside. What do you say so that she understands?
Our lives have changed in some way. I have never felt insecure when travelling, but I certainly don't now because of the security measures in place. At times I think officials have gone a little too far, but then I see that terrible footage and I am reminded of why we are told to do things like go through a body scanner. I'd rather do that than see someone try to do what happened 10 years ago.
I guess its why I and many others across the world celebrated when word came out that Osama Bin Laden had died. His body doesn't make up for what happened that day, but he had gotten his.
----
Patriotism will be alive and well on our TV screens today as the NFL season begins. You know the NFL will mark the 10 year anniversary of the attacks with pomp and circumstance. Americana will be alive.
----
One other thing about the NFL season opening for real today is we will get a new one of these tonight...Can Faith Hill look any better in this year's version than she did last.
-----
ESPN signed an 8 year extension with the NFL to show Monday Night Football. It means 59 million a season to the NFL's 32 teams. 59 million!!! Now you know why so many CFL players want to take a shot at being a piece of that pie. 59 million in TV revenue compared to a salary cap of 4.3 million for CFL teams. Hmmmmmm!!
-----
I hope this extension doesn't mean eight more years of Mike Tirico.
------
It is supposed to be 32 degrees today and by the looks of the forecast, it will be the last of 30 plus weather we will see for a while. Sorry, I'll be in the mancave watching the NFL and the Banjo Bowl. I don't think I'm alone am I fellas?
-----
Week 1 NFL upset pick---Dallas over the Jets
Week 1 NFL lock of the week ---Texans over the Colts
------
Who picked Peyton Manning in their fantasy football drafts? If you are raising your hand, did you take him in the first round?
----
How and why is Jim Barker still coaching?
-----
How did the Riders lose to the Argos?
-----
Is it just me or are there more Reginans in Winnipeg this weekend than there were Winnipeggers in Regina last? I am hearing from people in the Manitoba capital that there is a solid wave of green in Swaggerville.
-----
Andy Fantuz will help the Riders, but I hope Darian Durant isn't so excited to have number 83 back in the lineup that he focusses on Andy and Andy only. I think the Riders have a tough time winning this game, but they can and with Ken Miller coaching them, I'm not betting against them.
-----
Is it safe to say that its been a disappointing year for Regina's three football teams. There were championship aspirations by all three, but its been a tough, tough ride for the Rams, Thunder and Riders.
-----
The great Chris Cuthbert is now on Twitter. Since signing on Thursday, he has over 35 hundred followers. I have a meagre 881. If you are not following Chris, he can be found at http://twitter.com/#!/CCtsn
---
I would like to use this blog to publicly thank the CRTC for its stupid stance on not allowing ESPN to be brought into living rooms across this fine country of ours. That decision prevented me and many others from watching perhaps one of the most exciting college football games in history as Michigan or should I say "Mitch"igan beat Notre Dame 31-28 in a game that saw three TD's scored in the last 72 seconds.
----
I don't know what has bugged me more this summer---mosquitoes or wasps.
-----
I don't want to see the Yankees or the Red Sox represent the American League in the World Series.
-----
Are the Oilers good enough to avoid a 3rd straight number one overall pick. When I see the group of defencemen they have I wonder.
-----
What is Hockey Night in Canada going to look like this year with Jeff Marek, Scott Morrison and Pierre Lebrun all flying the coop. Who will replace those guys? Are the days of NHL hockey on CBC coming to an end. It wouldn't surprise me once the current contract runs out whenever that is.
-----
If Quinton Howden comes back from Florida and the Moose Jaw Warriors get a solid, reputable goaltender a la Thomas Heemskerk last year, then I say their first season at Mosaic Place might be one that will never be forgotten in Moose Jaw.
-----
Will MC Hammer ever allow us to touch things?
-----
Thank you to those who over the last decade have helped make our lives easier by fighting the war on terrorism. On a day like today, your efforts should be praised. They really should be every day, but especially today.
----
GO RIDERS!!
11 comments:
I don't think we will ever forget where we were on this morning 10 years ago. If you have ever been to Ground Zero, you will run through a gamut of emotions. If you haven't, I suggest you do sometime.
The Riders have rebounded and so can the Rams and Thunder.
Kerry Collins will be fine in Indy. I have that as my upset of the week.
Dan
Fantasy Football moment: Wouldn't it be something if the Argos were to remove Barker as coach on Monday and replace him with ... Greg Marshall. Marshall would then lead the Argos against the Riders next week. Such a move would be certain to boost the ratings of TSN's documentary "The Extra Yard".
Cut Barker some slack. He was coach of the year in 2010. His only downfall was his loyalty to a useless QB (Lemon). Now that Jyles is there they'll be fine. He was rusty last night but showed signs of great ability
Fine, thoughtful item.
Thank you
10 years later and I am still at a loss for words over what happened. The death and destruction and the way America and the world bounced back immediately is a credit to the lives we live.
Riley
I don't know why, but I have a feeling the Riders are going to deliver a shit-kicking to the Bombers today now that they are back at full strength.
Rob
Faith Hill is one of the sexiest women in the world. That is all!
Couldn't agree with you more on the Red Sox and Yankees. GO TIGERS!!!
The 911 stories this week have brought many a tear to my eye.
Will Jim Barker be here next Saturday? If he is, I will be surprised.
How could we have justified Marshall's and Berry's firing if the Riders would have beaten the Argos? I'm glad the loss occurred; the results since are worth it!! Now we can win vs the Argos next week and not feel guilty.
Post a Comment