''America needs this. Especially with Sept. 11 coming up,'' he said. ''You need to get peoples' minds off of it. And for something good to happen is great.''

Can someone please explain to me what baseball has to with the tragedy of September 11? Yes, baseball was interrupted by 9-11. Yes, baseball was one of the first sports back after 9-11. But are baseball labor issues and the remembrance on 9-11 connected in any way shape or form? I think not. Will September 11 be more comforting because we now know that baseball games will be played?

I know that no baseball game will take my focus away from remembrance on September 11, 2002.