Fans Come Out Strong

By Joe Gergen | STAFF WRITER

September 22, 2001

The game between the Mets and the Braves at Shea Stadium Friday night served as a symbolic comeback for New York, its citizens and its baseball fans.

Some of the 41,275 fans came despite the heightened awareness, others because of it. "For a while, we weren't sure about coming," said Scott Miller of Dover, N.J., who purchased his tickets months ago. "Who would have thought? I'm a die-hard Mets fan so I'm thrilled the game is important. But this is also part of history. Hopefully, it will help the process of healing."

Doug Chapey brought his own flag - "Forever Changed, Forever Strong!" - as well as his 7-year-old son, Alex. He is a funeral director, with three parlors on Long Island, and business, unfortunately, has been booming at Chapey & Sons.

"It's been taxing," he said. "It's time to shift gears. Even the drive here [from Babylon] was a release ... I had a chance to talk to my son about a lot of things. We went to the World Series together last year. Now we have to at least pretend we're not afraid and, after awhile, that will be the case."

Season-ticket holders Mike and Elizabeth Tucker of East Meadow arrived at the stadium nearly four hours before game time. "We can't let terrorists frighten us," Mike Tucker said.

"Life doesn't go on the same way, but we New Yorkers were made a certain way," Elizabeth Tucker said. "We don't roll over and die."

One sign proclaimed, "Proud to be a New Yorker; Blessed to be an American." The comeback is underway.

Michael Woods contributed to this story.