flourished in his second season with the Saints from corse178's blog
FLORHAM PARK, N. Cheap Chicago Cubs Jerseys .J. -- Mike Catapano was sitting in his sixth-grade music class when panic suddenly filled the room.His instructor was distraught, having just heard that each of the towers at the World Trade Center, where one of his loved ones worked, had been hit by a plane.Youre young, so you dont really know exactly whats happening, the New York Jets linebacker recalled of the Sept. 11 attacks. Was it a crash? Was it an attack? Youre just so confused.Catapano, the only player on the Jets roster who was born and raised in New York, grew up in the Long Island village of Bayville -- about 35 miles from lower Manhattan.I remember hearing that the World Trade Center went down, Catapano said in an interview with The Associated Press. I wasnt really sure where that was at the time, and then everybody started saying, `twin towers.Thats when I was like, `Oh my God!His thoughts immediately turned to an uncle who worked at a nearby building. Then, his mother, Barbara -- like many other worried parents -- showed up at the school to bring him home.My mom was freaking out and buying all kinds of food from the supermarket, thinking that we might be going to war or something, said Catapano, who was 11 at the time. It was just pandemonium. For a little kid, it was just kind of all a blur. But I remember everyone around me kind of being in a panic.Once back home, Catapano and his mother flipped on the TV to try to make sense of everything that was happening.We just stared at the screen in horror, he recalled.Anxious moments eventually gave way to relief as the Catapanos confirmed, one by one, that all of their immediate family members were OK. That included his uncle and a few firefighters, including two who were first responders.His music instructor and several classmates at St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay werent nearly as lucky.Neither were many of his neighbors.It was all around us, Catapano said. As anybody in New York knows, it was just a terrible, terrible day.Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks, including 2,750 at the World Trade Center.I remember one of my classmates being on TV and announcing his fathers name as one of the victims, Catapano said. Its just horrible. ... When you say 15 years, it seems like a long time ago. But, its really just like yesterday.During the days and weeks after the attacks, Catapano remembers joining his mother, a member of the neighborhood Rotary Club, going door-to-door bringing food and checks to people who lost the breadwinners of their household.They did the same with families affected near his grandmothers home in nearby Bethpage.Sunday marks the 15-year anniversary of the attacks, and Catapano will be on the field at MetLife Stadium for the Jets season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.Rookie Jordan Jenkins, the projected starter, is dealing with a calf injury and hasnt practiced all week. That could open the door for Catapano to make his first NFL start.He is excited for the possibility, but the game will take on even greater meaning for Catapano and his family.I remember the country really coming together right after the attacks, even as a little kid, Catapano said. I could sense that, and Im sure you will feel that in the stands Sunday. Thats a special thing. It shows the resiliency of humans, the resiliency of the United States. Its much bigger than the game of football.Its cool to be a part of those feelings and kind of put it on the field and do it for those people in the stands.The memories of that day in 2001 will again be all around him before the game when the Jets hold a pregame tribute to remember the victims. Members of Tuesdays Children, an organization that supports youth, families and communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss, will participate.Representatives from the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation will be honorary captains, along with members of the Jets 2001 team, who will also be featured in a video shown during the ceremony remembering 9/11.Current players will wear commemorative helmet stickers, and coaches will have lapel pins on their shirts.Catapano will also carry lots of emotions with him onto the field, and feels a responsibility to those former classmates, friends and neighbors who will spend part of that day grieving for lost loved ones.It takes it to a bigger picture outside of football when youre representing New York and its Sept. 11, Catapano said. It makes you think about more than the game itself and how important the game can be to other people in New York. Im just proud to be able to represent New York.---Follow Dennis Waszak at http://twitter.com/DWAZ73---AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Authentic Mark Grace Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Authentic Fergie Jenkins Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. http://www.cheapcubsjerseysshop.com/ .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Sydney AFL coach John Longmire says Michael Talia must win back the respect of his teammates after pleading guilty to drug possession, but theres a more immediate challenge for his other defenders.Talia, who last month was stood down indefinitely from club activities and given a solo training program, was handed a 12-month good behaviour bond a week ago at Sydneys Waverley Local Court.Longmire revealed on Thursday the four-week stand-down period down would end on Friday August 19.Then he just needs to make sure that hes working really hard to be able to win the respect back of the players, Longmire said of Talia, who hadnt played since round one due to a serious foot injury.Hes spoken to the players, hes stood down until August 19 and then its about working to make sure that he gets himself in the best possible physical shape as he can be.Longmire suggested the Swans fit and available defenders would have their hands full against St Kilda on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.He was impressed by the marking prowess of the Saints in their 71-point thrashing of Carlton last week, which maintained their slim finals hopes.Our defenders have been in reasonable form, but their forwards - certainly to be able to take 27 marks inside the forward 50 - is a huge number, Longmire said.Among the Saints moost-potent attacking threats will be former Swan Tim Membrey, their leading goalkicker this season with 39. 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Membrey 22, after playing just one senior game for Sydney, has flourished in his second season with the Saints.Its a real credit to him to be able to go down there and do what hes done, Longmire said.Hes kicked a lot of goals; hes been an important part of their forward set-up.Longmire suggested key forward Sam Reid was running out of time to break back into the senior side after not playing a senior game this season due to calf and achilles injuries.Its becoming really close now to make a call on him, Longmire said.Veteran key defender Ted Richards, who last week announced he would retire at the end of the season, would not be earning a 262nd and final AFL game on sentiment.You play if you deserve to play, Longmire said.However, he didnt rule out Richards getting another opportunity, after serving a one-game suspension on a rough conduct charge arising out of a NEAFL fixture.Hes still got an important role to play and its just the one week, Longmire said.Hes still training and doing all he needs to do to try and be available for selection. 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