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American Morning

NYPD-FDNY Football Game Held

Aired May 20, 2002 - 07:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The annual football game between New York's bravest and archrivals from the New York's finest, the NYPD, took place yesterday. It was the first time since 9/11, as CNN's Michael Okwu reports, the emotions on the field were running high, while the rivalries sat on the bench.

CNN's, as we just said, Michael Okwu reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A flyover at Giant Stadium, players taking the field before thousands, an anthem sung from the heart. A football game, yes, but no ordinary game, not this year.

KEVIN KELLY, NEW YORK FIREFIGHTER: All of the brothers that we lost today, they are right here with us on this field right now. They are playing right beside us.

OKWU: For 30 years, it has been billed as New York's bravest vs. New York's finest. This year especially few would disagree.

Fifteen thousands fans watched in near silence as the bravest team presented framed jerseys to the families of the 22 active and former fire department players who were killed on 9/11.

Irene Lyons' husband, Pat, was the fire department's quarterback. A member of Squad 252, he was among the first to arrive at the World Trade Center. These pictures were among the last taken alive of him with his squad 37 minutes before the collapse of tower two. Irene and the seven-month-old baby boy he never met.

IRENE LYONS, WIDOW OF NYC FIREFIGHTER: I'm really not paying too much attention. Every once in a while I look over to see the score. But yes, it's difficult, because every game I have been to for the past 10 or 11 years, he has been on the field. And it's just -- it's not the same.

OKWU: From this date (ph), the fans waved photos like flags of pride and unfinished promise. The children made more complicated from loss, having faced reality and yet still innocent.

Patty Coughlin's husband, John, played tackle for the police. A member of an elite emergency search-and-rescue squad, he died on 9/11. PATTY COUGHLIN, WIDOW OF NYC POLICE OFFICER: It's not the big, major event. It's the little stuff that gets you. My little one is seven. She lost her teeth, and she came walking into the kitchen one day and said to me, "Mom, daddy is never going to see my teeth." You know, it's stuff like that that nails you worse.

OKWU: A toothy smile for the camera and the number of her father's unit painted on her face.

(on camera): In the 29 years that this game has been played, the police department has won 20 times. And on this crisp day with so many widows sitting in the stands, no one really seemed to care who won.

(voice-over): When the last whistle blew, New York's finest had won again, 10-0. But then everybody here today won, and everybody lost.

Michael Okwu, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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