Remember, Reflect, Return
There's so much to talk about. And there's nothing to say.
There's a wellspring of emotion. And there's black-hole numbness.
There's supreme disbelief. And then, then then there are pictures.
And video.
And recordings.
And articles.
And commentary.
And statistics.
Gracious God how we need you, the statistics.
And it's real, all real. And it's all a nightmare.
No one could have, would have wanted to ever imagine.
No time to turn things around.
No time to turn around.
No time to say goodbye.
Nowhere to look for normalcy.
No air travel. No stock market. No malls.
No sports.
Fifteen contests on the Major League Baseball schedule for Tuesday, September 11, 2001, not worth fifteen cents combined.
No baseball played for a second day on September 12. No survivors of the original attack pulled from the rubble.
None played on September 13. No survivors pulled from the rubble.
None played on September 14. No survivors.
None on September 15. No.
None on September 16. None.
No college ball, thankfully, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
The National Football League also cancelled.
It did not cancel its games following the raid on Pearl Harbor - which was nearly simultaneous with most kick-offs.
It did not cancel its games following the assassination of John F. Kennedy - the late president's staff advised against it.
But this was, is, something different. Worse.
Exceptional in reach and repulsiveness.
And games seem trivial in comparison.
They are.
They always are - everyone says it. But only in times like these, when playing games would prove otherwise. When playing, simply in and of itself, would be the worst display of sportsmanship.
Eventually, though, we always say, too, that we need sports to get us back to normal.
We do.
But how?
Because what's now normal wasn't.
Life changed.
But sports didn't.
Sports aren't life. Just a reflection of parts of it.
And in that mirror-world we can still see.
We see things that we're used to still are as we're used to them.
Consistency.
Comfort found. Three outs. Four downs. Eighteen holes.
True, these are but tiny band-aids for a nation so gored and grieved.
But they are something. They are a start.
And we have to start somewhere.
Just as we had to stop - on September 11 and days thereafter. These were not times for games.
Playing would not have been sensible. Or sensitive.
As would have been not resuming play in the week after.
Because we need something today, tomorrow - even if its trivial - to cheer about.
To balance out - for a while - the tears.
For we all are wounded.
We all know personally a friend hit in the attack.
Her name is America.
Stay Tuned
As news changes by the minute, Ace is subject to the same print limitations that face all weekly newspapers, from the Village Voice to LA Weekly (our former sister papers) and everything in between. Calendars are subject to last-minute updates; schedules change on an hour-to-hour basis; and we are suddenly beset by local ties to events that are playing out in a national arena. While we don't have the option to "stop the presses," as events unfold, we may be posting additional content, and/or changes in content, on our website, at www.aceweekly.com. Regular features (columns, reviews, etc.) will continue to appear in our regular print edition, on stands every Thursday.
-Editors
Music Hath Charms
It was a rare harmonic convergence that visited Kentucky this past weekend - a lineup that included Bela Fleck and Lucinda Williams just across town from each other; Patty Loveless at Renfro Valley; and a bluegrass festival at Poppy Mountain that featured Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury, and Ricky Skaggs. While such an embarrassment of riches is nothing to be scoffed at, it wouldn't hurt booking agents to occasionally compare schedules and think about spreading the wealth (an idea of economic, as well as musical merit).
On Saturday, at least, the early risers really got the treat, as Frank and Mary Schaap entertained the masses at Farmers' Market that morning.
Good Causes
Important Reminder: the Race for the Cure will be held downtown this Saturday (September 22). Also note that this will mean that the Farmers' Market will be relocated (for the day) to its Tuesday/Thursday up-the-hill location at the corner of Maxwell and Broadway. Plan your traffic patterns accordingly.
The vendors at last week's Farmers' Market banded together to make a donation to a companion Farmers' Market in NYC, in the wake of last week's events.
One for All
Lexington showed its support of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives in last week's terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers in New York. At a candlelight vigil in Phoenix Park on Tuesday, September 18, members of the community gathered to light a candle and say good-bye as Lexington's firefighters and police stood by in uniform.
Shock Waves
Bomb threats have increased since last week's tragedy. These threats are irresponsible and morbid in light of our national crisis. State employees are urged to carry state-issued identification or a photo id in order to help security offices monitor safety at state facilities. Bomb threats have now been upgraded to a class C felony increasing the penalty to a five to ten year prison term. Pulling a fire alarm will win you up to a year in jail or a $500 fine or both. -JG
Don't Bend Over at the Pump
Kentuckians are urged not to pay too much for gasoline. Price gouging is not something that is happening to a large degree in Kentucky and there is no reason for gas prices to have increased. "I am outraged to learn that there are those who would take advantage of their fellow citizens during this national emergency," said Governor Patton.
If you know of stations charging prices that seem inflated relative to other stations, you are encouraged to call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office. Consumers can call 888/432-9257. -JG
HOME | THIS ISSUE | ACE ARCHIVES