A week after the 9/11 terrorism attacks, legendary baseball broadcaster Jack Buck delivered a speech, highlighted by the following poem, at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.
One of the most beautiful moments in sports history, this poem and the ensuing game illustrated the healing power of sports in our lives.
Since this nation was founded under God
more than 200 years ago,
we’ve been the bastion of Freedom,
the light which keeps the free world aglow.
We do not covet the possessions of others;
we are blessed with the bounty we share.
We have rushed to help other Nations;
anything … anytime … anywhere.
War is just not our nature
We won’t start, but we will end the fight.
If we are involved,
We shall be resolved
To protect what we know is Right.
We’ve been challenged by a cowardly foe,
Who strikes and then hides from our view.
With one voice we say,
‘We have no choice today,
There is only one thing to do.’
Everyone is saying the same thing and praying,
That we end these senseless moments we are living.
As our fathers did before,
We shall win this unwanted war,
And our children will enjoy the future we’ll be giving.
Hayden Coombs 