Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
About 40 professionals from my hometown were asked to share their memories of 9/11 with high school students, some who barely remember the attacks of that day. I was honored to be asked. Below is what I said.
Good afternoon. My name is Sam Donnellon and I am a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com. I am also a Haddonfield parent of three children, all of whom have passed through these halls, at least one of whom had Mr. Coughlin as their teacher at one point or another. Patrick Donnellon, my youngest, graduated HMHS last year and is now at the University of Dayton, and loving it.
By now I hope that what I am about to share with you is merely a garnish to the day’s events. I hope at some point today, if not all of it, you tried to imagine what it would have been like to be a high school senior on that day 10 years ago, what it would have been like to have a family member, a working father or working mother, traveling somewhere on that day. And finally, and most of all, what it would have been like to have someone you know, or love, working in or even near those two buildings that day.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
EAST RUTHERFORD -- I knew a kid who was a backup quarterback. The problem was that when he went in, so did all the other second-string guys. Once, he took a snap on his own one-yard line and disappeared instantly for what seemed like a good hour.
At the least, it seemed long enough that suffocation could be an issue.
Eventually enough bodies were peeled off the top to reveal portions of his still intact and moving body. The point is that it was hard to figure if he could play the position given the circumstances, which is another way of saying that last night’s final exhibition game between the Jets backups and the Eagles backups did little to move the speculative to the informative.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
Video: The Daily News' Sam Donnellon wraps up the Red Sox and Phillies three-game series with CineSport's Noah Coslov and The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo.
Daily News columnist Sam Donnellon chats live about the Phillies and his column on Jayson Werth in today's paper, as part of the Hot Button at 11 a.m. today.
If you're on a mobile device, click here to follow along and send in questions.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
So how do you like this small ball?
Exciting?
Excruciating?
Sam Donnellon will chat Phillies on the Hot Button at 11 a.m., Monday, March 28.
On a mobile phone? Click HERE to join the chat.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
Video: Sam Donnellon of the Daily News breaks down the Flyers' 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
“Name me your top five Super Bowl plays,” Bob Horowitz, the executive producer of the annual “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials was saying before the weekend.” And then name me your top five Super Bowl ads.”
Point well taken, since everyone can usually list five great commercials from a single Super Bowl – particularly when the game’s a dog.
Super Bowl XLV was no dog, once again winding us down to the final monutes.
Join Daily News columnist Sam Donnellon for a live chat about the Eagles' 21-16 loss to the Packers that knocked the Birds out of the playoffs, today at 1 p.m. as part of the Hot Button.
If you're on a mobile device, click here to follow along and send in questions.
Sam Donnellon, Daily News Sports Columnist
WASHINGTON -- Jayson Werth says he has not circled his calendar for his first game against the Phillies.
“I haven’t looked that far ahead,” Werth said during his introductory news conference with the Washington Nationals. “I haven’t looked at the schedule to see. But that’s not something that’s very important to me.”
We looked. It’s April 12 at Nationals Park, the 10th game of the season.
Werth was asked often about the Phillies, especially since his news conference came 2 hours before the Phillies introduced his close friend, Cliff Lee.
“I had a great time in Philadelphia, I really did,” Werth said. “And the things we accomplished it proved it’s not easy to win and we won. I take from Philadelphia a sense of accomplishment and I look back on those times they were more than happy times.
“My former teammates will be held very special to me, especially as my life and career goes on. Those are things that can’t be taken away. But I’m here to start fresh and to build anew I guess you could say. And I’m on board for that and excited for the task ahead.”
In Philadelphia, Lee was asked about his close relationship with Werth.
“I don't know if I can say exactly how that conversation went down here, to be honest with you,” Lee said. “I know once we both got on the free agent market, we talked about trying to get on the same team. Obviously when he signed with the Nationals and I signed here, it didn't happen.
“When he found out I was coming here, he wasn't the happiest person in the world,” Lee said, smiling. “I'll put it that way.”
Reach Sam at donnels@phillynews.com.
