 | Reality and fantasy intersected all afternoon in SoldierField.As Bears head
coach Lovie Smith said,"This being of course a special Sunday to play football,
I told theguys (Saturday) night that this will be a day they'll remember therest
of their lives."If they noticed, the players will remember the break between
thethird and fourth quarters when one fan held up a large "D" andanother a
simulated picket fence.You know, as in "Dee-fense!"Only this time the fence was
red, white and blue, and featuredthe message "We will Brett
Favre Authentic Jersey White never forget."There might have been some
confusion over whether the call fordefense was directed at the Bears against the
Falcons or Americaagainst terrorism.One thing was clear, though: "We Vikings
Brett Favre Authentic Jersey will never forget" was inreference to the 10th
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the UnitedStates.Sports fans normally don't
appreciate their games being playedin the context of the real world. An NFL game
generally Brett
Favre Jersey White isn'tconsidered the No. 1 event on the planet; it's the
only event onthe planet.Football is an escape from the real world, right? Who
wants tothink about tragedy when the Bears are opening a new, shiny,hopeful
season?Well, hardly anybody seemed to mind the ceremonies leading up tothe
Bears' 30-12 victory overAtlanta.Most in attendance seemed consoled by the
American flagunfurling across the entire field, Jim Cornelison's
customarilyrousing Vikings
Brett Favre Jersey version of the national anthem and the chants of
"U-S-A!"Athletes usually are antsy during pregame activities that interrupttheir
routine and interfere with their focus. But not on thisanniversary of one of the
worst days in American history. Playersexpressed what an honor it was to help
hold up the huge flag duringthe anthem. "It was a very emotional moment," Bears
Vikings
Brett Favre Replica Jersey receiver Roy Williams said."It was very tough
thinking about Vikings
Brett Favre Premier Jersey the people who died in 9/11."Remember, that's
what this was: A day of remembrance of the event,the lives lost and the heroism
demonstrated. Authentic
Brett Favre Jersey White The Bears beat the Falcons due in greatpart to
linebacker Brian Urlacher's 10 tackles, interception andfumble recovery/return
for a touchdown. But the day was a reminderthat football players aren't first
responders carrying fellowhumans to safety. Matt Forte demonstrated again by
gaining 158total yards from scrimmage why he is asking for a pay raise. Butthe
day was a reminder that running backs aren't firefighters paidrelatively
modestly to run into burning buildings while others arerunning out. Jay Cutler
threw for 312 yards and in the process tookanother physical beating that has
become all too common. But theday was a reminder that Cutler lived to see
another day that 2,977victims didn't 10 years ago. Urlacher said of the pregame,
"It gaveme chills. I watched the (coverage of the anniversary) on TV beforeI
came to the stadium. The fans (here) were awesome. I can't put itinto words. Official
Brett Favre Jersey It was a big day." Then there was Bears rookie Dane
Sanzenbacher, whoplayed his first NFL game after the chanting and the anthem and
theflag-waving … "You realize there are other
thingsthan sport out there," Sanzenbacher said. "It was an awesomemoment." As
Lovie Smith said, it was a special day to remember therest of your lives. mimrem@dailyherald.com |  |