Another very well written and inspiring piece in the wake of these heinious
acts by one of baseball's good guys, Curt Schilling.

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To the fans of Major League Baseball, and the victims and families of Tuesday's
terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.,

I'd like to start off by saying that what I am writing is purely my opinion,
and my family's feelings on these issues. I am not speaking for any other
players in baseball, or in any other sport across our nation or around the
world.

I'll begin by addressing the trivial items addressed late this week as far as
our sport is concerned. The decision made by Commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday
afternoon to resume games on Monday was one overwhelmingly favored by the Major
League players. In our conference call on Thursday I got the impression that
players, just like every other American citizen out there, didn't need baseball
right now, and it was probably best said by Jerome Bettis when he stated that,
"We are entertainers, and I don't think America wants to be entertained right
now."

I believe that we all felt this way, and hope that the few people in this
country who wanted us to play understand that we made the decision as citizens
of this country, not as baseball players.

To the victims and families of the tragedies inflicted on us this past week we
send our hearts out to you, and our prayers that you will find some comfort,
some solace in the coming weeks as this great country gets up on its feet and
defends itself as the world's greatest nation, with the world's greatest
people.

Like a lot of people, my thoughts Tuesday afternoon steered towards revenge,
retaliation, retribution, in just how hard we could hit back.

My first cognizant thought was "Man did they pick on the wrong country." Then,
after watching TV, I began to realize that not only did they pick on the wrong
country, but they couldn't have picked a worse target. There is no city on this
planet that more represents its nation than New York does in the United States.
New York is the true definition of a melting pot. Every race, religion and
color are represented in New York, and on Tuesday you saw every race, every
religion, every color, come together as one nation of people fighting for one
common goal -- to save lives. I can honestly tell you that I have never been as
proud to be an American as I was that day, to see the men and women of this
great country come together and pour their blood, sweat and tears into saving
those that could be saved. They continue to do so today, and with no less
effort. That in and of itself should make us proud as hell.

My wife Shonda, and our three young children stepped outside on Friday at 7
p.m., lit a candle and prayed together. We prayed that those heroic men and
women of the NYPD, FDNY and the U.S. Government that sacrificed their lives in
the minutes following the first explosion at the World Trade Center are now in
a safe and beautiful place.

To those families that lost loved ones in the NYPD and in the FDNY, I can only
offer our sincerest thank you. Please know that athletes in this country look
to your husbands and wives as they may have looked at the men of our profession
when they were young, as heroes, as idols, for they are everything every man
should strive to be in life and they died in a way reserved only for those who
would make the ultimate sacrifice for this nation, and for the freedom we
oftentimes take for granted.

Words cannot heal your wounds, not even time will heal the wounds for those who
have suffered loss this week. But other than money and blood, which I hope the
players in MLB will be giving of both, it is all we have to offer.

We will step on the fields of Major League Baseball on Monday night, but please
know that we are not doing this as an aversion to forget what happened on
Tuesday. Nothing will ever make us forget that day. But we are doing so because
it is our jobs, and I honestly feel that if you do have a chance to catch a few
minutes of a game, and see every sports fan in every stadium stand for that
initial moment of silence, and understand when we do so that we do so for you,
and for your families. And in the seventh-inning stretch when this nation sings
God Bless America, we do so because we can, because in this country men and
woman have died so that we can continue on as a free nation, and we will be
thinking of you then also.

And it's my belief that if you watch close enough you will see players, many
players in fact, trying in some small way to say thank you, and that we won't
forget you or your loved ones as some of us will have messages scrawled
somewhere on our hats or uniforms that you can read.

We will proudly wear the great flag of this country on our uniforms, and it's
something I hope baseball adopts forever.

The flags in this country fly at half-staff to honor those that have fallen,
but the flags are the only thing going half way in this country and it's my
belief that that will not change. I believe our president when he says
retribution will be swift and total, as an American it's all I can go on but
based on what I have seen done these past few days being done by other
Americans it's more than enough.

To those out there that serve in the military, and to those with children
serving in the military I offer my sincerest thanks, and our prayers are with
you and yours in the days and weeks to come. We know you'll do us proud.

In closing let me say God Bless America and God Bless Americans everywhere.

Thank you,
Curt Schilling