Yankees pause to remember 9/11

Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada were New Yorkers like any others when the planes hit the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Nearly 10 years later, they were asked and answered "The Question" as New Yorkers, just like any others.

"I was in the hospital, with [my son], Jorge," Posada said.

"I was asleep," Jeter said, and woke up to a message from Posada.

"I was home and my mother-in-law was watching the news," Rivera said, "and I heard she started screaming.

"I looked out the window and it was a beautiful day. I saw the second plane hit the tower, the second tower. For me, it was hard. For everybody it was, too."

The Yankees on Wednesday commemorated the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 with a moment of silence and a pregame ceremony including members of the armed forces who were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

A decade later, a theme emerges: It was a watershed moment that managed to be both terrifying and, in the aftermath, unifying. Because, while everyone experienced that day in various ways, the sentiments, at least, were similar.

The uncertainty: "I was in shock," Joe Girardi said. "You could hear where I lived in Chicago, the fighter jets flying over. It was a scary, scary day."

The helplessness: "We had the opportunity to meet these [9/11] families," Jeter said. "These were the true heroes. What do you say to them? It was very, very uncomfortable."

And, of course, the resilience: "It was amazing," Rivera said. "Everybody helping everybody, doesn't matter what race or color you were."

Naturally, the Yankees did experience those few months after a little differently from the rest of us. They made a run to the World Series (losing to Arizona in seven games) and had the hopes of a few million fans resting on their every on-field move.

"That Series was tremendous," Rivera said. "I wouldn't call it magic, I would call it a blessing, a time to forget about what happened for a little bit -- for three hours or whatever time it took."

And, presumably, to root for a good team playing good baseball as New Yorkers, just like any others.