Emotional Scenes

FAIRFAX, VA - May 1, 2011 Osama bin Laden, apparent mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, was killed in Pakistan.  As word quickly spread across the country, people reacted as though it were a victory for the United States.  One huge crowd was outside the White House for several hours chanting and singing pro-USA songs.

Another crowd was at the only active sporting event that was still going on when the news was circulating the country.  Fans at Citizens Bank Park, watching their beloved Philadelphia Phillies play the New York Mets, were chanting U-S-A! The players had no idea why, but after the game many players said that it was a night they would never forget.

This got me thinking about some of the most emotional games for Boston sports. This was the top three I could come up with including an honorable mention:

Honorable Mention
Nomar's First Game Back - 07/06/09

In Nomar Garciaparra's first game back to Fenway Park since leaving our Boston Red Sox in 2004 for the Chicago Cubs via a trade, Nomar received a two minute standing ovation.  Nomar was the face of our franchise for many years and definitely a fan favorite.  He returned on July 6, 2009 as a member of the Oakland Athletics.  In the top of the second inning Nomar came up to bat and after about a minute could not hold back the tears, watch the scene.

I was luckily enough to be at this game with my dad and watch this happen and it was definitely one of the best Sox games I have been to.  I get chills everytime I watch that video.

Third Place
Ted Williams at the '99 All Star Game - 07/13/99

Our Boston Red Sox are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports as they began in 1901.  Their ballpark, Fenway Park, is the oldest ballpark that is stil in use, dating back to 1912.  Ted Williams was the best player to wear a Red Sox uniform and play in Fenway Park.  Williams played for the Sox from 1939-1960, with a five year break to serve as a pilot in World War II.  He won the AL MVP twice and the Triple Crown twice.

In 1999, our Red Sox held the annual MLB All-Star Game.  Williams was not only in attendence, he went out onto the field and was greeted by all the players.  There was also a significant standing ovation as he was announced and driven onto the field.  Williams passed away in 2002 from cardiac arrest at the age of 83.  The '99 All-Star Game was the last nationally televised time he was seen at Fenway.

"A man has to have goals—for a day, for a lifetime—and that was mine, to have people say, 'There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived."

Second Place

Phil Esposito's Number being Retired - 12/03/87

The Boston Bruins are also a very storied franchise.  They began in 1924 and were one of the Original Six teams.  They have had some of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates, but after Eddie Shore and Bobby Orr came Phil Esposito.  Esposito played for our Boston Bruins from 1967 to 1975.  He was the first person in NHL history to reach 100 points in one season and set the record for most goals (76) and most points (152) in a season, although these two records were beaten by Wayne Gretzky eventually.

On December 3, 1987, the 68 year old Esposito came to the Boston Garden in front a sold out crowd to have his number retired in black and gold.  The ceremony began with Ray Bourque, captain for the Bruins at the time, giving Esposito a Bruins jersey with Espo's name and number 7 on the back.  Bourque, in a surprising move, then took off his number 7 jersey revealing his new jersey with the number 77 on the back. Bourque did not tell anyone other than the Bruins General Manager at the time, Harry Sinden.  Esposito was close to tears and a big gasp came out of the full crowd as Bourque revealed his new jersey.

The whole five minute ceremony was so loud you could barely hear anyone talking into the microphone.  Esposito's number is one of ten numbers to be retired in Bruins history.

First Place

First Pats Game after 9/11 - 9/23/01

The 2001 NFL season was put on hold after the 9/11 attacks and continued again the weekend of 9/23.  Our New England Patriots took on the New York Jets in Foxboro Stadium.  Looking back on the game, the big story may have been the injury to Drew Bledsoe, which made Tom Brady the starting quarterback and the Patriots have won three Super Bowls and never looked back since that game.  The true real story was all the events that had happened in the past week and the pregame activities on the field.

The game was supposed to start at 1 p.m., but did not actually start until a little after 2 p.m.  New York firefighters, police officers, and some New Englanders who were directly affected and had lost family members in 9/11 were invited onto the field.  One of the firefighters was Patriots special teams captain, Larry Izzo's brother.  Izzo and his brother embraced each other and began to both cry.  Although the game was not actually played in New York, it had a somber atmosphere that made it feel like the attacks happened in Foxboro, MA.  Also, there was a moment of silence that lasted well past when the announcer had them stop.