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