The Final Three Games

This week’s list is a short one.

They were the last two Major League baseball games of the night.  The kind that only West Coast and die hard Texas Rangers fans can appreciate.  Seattle at Anaheim and Texas at Oakland.  I would venture to guess that even the fans at home watching on TV were not really interested, because it was the season premiere of Monday Night Football and it was a big one.  The New York Football Giants, winners of the NFC East the previous year, against the preseason darling Denver Broncos. Even Dennis Miller and Eric Dickerson couldn’t screw this up could they?

NUMBER  3
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
OAKLAND A’s  7      TEXAS RANGERS  1

In front of only 12,000 fans, the A’s quickly took care of 23yr old journeyman right-hander Aaron Myette with 6 runs in the first inning and two thirds.  That was more than enough for Oakland ace Barry Zito who moved to 13-8 with a complete game 4 hitter.  The A’s first four batters (Johnny Damon, Jeremy Giambi, Jason Giambi and Jermaine Dye) scored five of the seven runs while every batter in the lineup except 2b Frank Menechino got at least one hit.  Oakland moved to 20 games over .500 solidifying their hold on the A.L. Wildcard.

It was another case of underachieving for a Rangers lineup made up of Ruben Sierra, Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriquez.  Up and coming 2b Mike Young did connect on his 11^th homer of the season in the 9^th.  The Rangers dropped to 66-78.

NUMBER  2 
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SEATTLE MARINERS  5     ANAHEIM ANGLES  1

Ismael Valdez (9-10) was able to hold Ichiro Suzuki hitless in four at bats, but he could not do the same to the rest of the white hot Mariner line up as Seattle(104-40) took care of Anaheim 5-1 in front of 20,000 fans.  Five Mariners collected at least two hits each including 3^rd baseman David Bell who went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and a run scored.  Freddie Garcia moved to 16-5, pitching 8 innings of 3 hit of shutout ball before giving way to Arthur Rhodes to finish the game.  The lone bright spot for the Angles (73-71) came from Troy Glaus as he collected his 92^nd RBI against Rhodes in the ninth.

NUMBER 1 
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
DENVER BRONCOS  31   NEW YORK GIANTS  20

Brian Griese threw for over 300 yards and 3 TD’s and former MVP Terrell Davis made an impressive comeback with 101 yards on 21 carries and the Denver Broncos began their Super Bowl quest with a win over the New York Giants on the Monday Night Football opener.  The Broncos, playing in remodeled Invesco Field scored first and never relinquished the lead as Rod Smith and Ed McCaffery combined for 15 catches and 209 yards with each scoring a touchdown.  Giants Quarterback Kerry Collins threw 3 touchdowns of his own, two to Amani Toomer, but the Giants ground game could not control the ball as Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber could only scratch out 58 yards in 16 carries.  The Broncos celebration was tempered by the loss late in the game of McCaffery who suffered a broken leg.  McCaffery was replaced by Eddie Kennison who had a 36 yard reception of his own. Replacement officials again were used and did not change outcome of the game,but, just as the other weekend games, mistakes in the spotting of the ball, consistency of calls, and the overall efficiency of the crew was subpar.

I wanted to bring these games to everyone’s attention this week because of one small item they all have in common.  It is a commonality that has both brought forth love and hate, created tears of sorrow and tears of joy.  Maybe we never knew how important these games were or maybe how insignificant these games were. What each had in common has stirred us to our core and made us question everything that has happened before and since.

These games were played the night of September 10^th, 2001

But we will not let the bearers of hate control us.  We will sing the National Anthem a little louder, we will take an extra second to look at our flag.  We will root for the home team and against the visitors. And we will do it all as Americans.  One of the greatest sights I saw ten years ago were professional athletes running on their fields and diamonds waving the American Flag.  They continue to do it today and we will continue to do it tomorrow. America is the winner.

God Bless Us All and God Bless The United States of America