Patriotism with dignity.(resumption of professional football games)(Brief Article)

From New England to Cleveland, from Miami to Seattle, from Dallas to San Francisco, the games resumed Sunday. They resumed not as before, and they couldn't. American flags covered entire fields and fans wept openly in the stands and players stood soberly at attention. The games resumed, but clearly there was a bonding of patriotism and sports unprecedented in NFL history.

The events of September 11 cast an emotional pall over every contest. The week's delay had been good and gracious. But the season inevitably had to start again, and all of it was accomplished with class and dignity. And, yes, some old-fashioned flag waving.

Jon Bon Jovi's rendition of "America the Beautiful," sung from outside a Manhattan fire-house, was shown in all the early-game stadiums. A version by Lionel Richie and Mary J. Blige filled the late-game venues, and Darius Rucker sang live before the Broncos-Cardinals night contest. Everywhere, firemen and policemen shared in pregame ceremonies. The most moving probably was in New England, where Jimmy Andruzzi, one of three firefighter brothers of Patriots guard Joe Andruzzi, participated in the coin toss. Jimmy had ...