Tribute: Walk On

By Chris Dachille CPKSPORTS.com Associate Editor

"I'm only a man in a silly red sheet Digging for kryptonite on this one way street Only a man in a funny red sheet Looking for special things inside of me

It's not easy to be me." - "Superman" by Five For Fighting

Early Tuesday morning, the Denver Broncos christened their glorious new stadium, Invesco Field, with a modest 31-20 win against the defending NFC champion New York Giants. Denver used more than one running back, with Terrell Davis rushing for more than 100 yards. Looking lackluster in the first half, Denver struck back in the second with...

BOOM

At 8:48 AM, a plane hit the World Trade Center.

BOOM

About 20 minutes later, another plane hit the other Twin Tower.

BOOM

Then the Pentagon.

Then in southwest Pennsylvania.

Did anyone care about Monday night? Did anyone second guess Mike Shannahan's fourth and goal call in the first half? Does anyone remember it now? Early reports indicated 50,000 or more perished in this heinous attack on our soil. Thankfully, those numbers have decreased over the agonizing days that have passed since Tuesday morning. One fatality is too many.

The sporting community, with very little opposition, postponed or canceled most sporting events last weekend. Random division I-AA schools, the ATP & WTA tennis tours and CART racing continued their schedules per usual. Amazingly, CART racer Alex Zanardi lost both of his legs in the American Memorial Saturday. Zanardi stays in stable condition as of press time.

Throughout the week, one question keeps popping up - "what happened?" Or better yet, an exclamation - "they did what?!?" It's going to take more than we as a nation realize to heal the pain caused by an uholy cult following a "holy mission" in their eyes.

We cannot give into this. I know this isn't a new statement, but it must be ingrained to reach it's full potential. It is too early to decide to fight back. We must analyze what happened, how it happened and when to fight back - if we do at all.

It won't be a fun couple of months. Thanksgiving will be somber. Bells will sing the sad, sad news over the holidays. It may not be a Happy New Year.

But, as a nation, we have to be united, not divided. How weird that President Bush's campaign mantra is so true now. And one of the ways we can do this is through sports. America loves sports. America needs sports at this time.

We need to cheer for our favorite teams. We need to be amazed when Barry Bonds gets close to Mark McGwire's home run record. We need to giggle when Vinny Testaverde pretends to be a defensive end. We need all of this and we need it now.

Believe me, sports isn't the only answer. We need people to donate money and blood to the Red Cross. Their numbers are 1-800-GIVE-LIFE and 1-800-HELP-NOW. Sports are just something we can do as a country to return to normal.

Play ball

"And if the darkness is to keep us apart And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off And if your glass heart should crack And for a second you turn back Oh no, be strong

Walk on

Walk on What you got, they can't steal it No they can't even feel it" - "Walk On" by U2