Nine Innings from Ground Zero
In the last hour, I have watched HBO’s Nine Innings from Ground Zero, about the role that the 2001 World Series, and the Yankees in particular, played the the nation’s recovery following the September 11 destruction of the World Trade Center.
It won’t get the press coverage, or inspire the violent reactions (both pro and con) of Fahrenheit 911. It’s not that type of documentary. It’s not about hate for the president. It’s not about hate for the terrorists. It’s about the healing process. It’s about love for country, baseball, and the Yankees.
I don’t know that I have any deep review, and I don’t really know that it even made me think that much. But it does take quite a bit of filmmaking (or maybe just spectacularly tragic events) to make me almost like the Yankees. They even have a quote from members of the Red Sox front office saying “I did not think there was anything on this earth that could make me cheer for the Yankees.”
It’s hard to say that anything about 9/11 can be a feel good story, but this was close. The stories of what the players did for the community. The stories of the president and Mayor Giuliani, and even the stories of Joe Torre put a different, more personal face on the tragedy, and the days after.
And yeah, there are some really goofy Yankees fans to laugh at, too.
Four stars. Joe Bob says check it out.
I’m glad to hear you liked it, Matt — I’ve got it sitting on my ReplayTV at home and can’t wait to have a spare hour to watch it. October looks good.