Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 11
Bowa, Douglas, Glanville Recall 9/11's Nearly 3,000 Deaths and 6-Day Halt to Philadelphia Sports
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 11

Bowa, Douglas, Glanville Recall 9/11's Nearly 3,000 Deaths and 6-Day Halt to Philadelphia Sports

1 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 11

Summary

  • Larry Bowa, Hugh Douglas and Doug Glanville said the Sept. 11 attacks left Philadelphia athletes fearing bridges, airports and even packed stadiums could be next targets.
  • Four hijacked flights killed nearly 3,000 people, shut U.S. airspace by 9:42 a.m. and threw MLB and the NFL into days of uncertainty over whether games should continue.
  • Six days later, baseball resumed on Sept. 17, with the Phillies returning home after a chaotic bus trip and team vote that briefly left them stranded between Atlanta and Cincinnati.
  • At Veterans Stadium, 27,910 fans watched the Phillies beat Atlanta 5-2 as Scott Rolen hit two homers and, at Bowa's urging, tipped his cap in a moment the manager said transcended the result.
  • For Douglas, the aftermath lasted beyond that week: the Eagles' delayed season resumed under armed security, and a giant-flag pregame ceremony in Seattle became his enduring memory of pride after fear.

Insights

How did athletes balance their own deep fears of terrorism with the immense pressure to heal a grieving nation on the field?
As the NFL marks the 25th anniversary today, can modern commemorations truly recreate the raw, desperate unity felt in stadiums back in 2001?