A Special Tribute

Every Miami Marlins player wore a jersey that will never be seen again on a Marlins player. It bore the No. 16 and the name Fernandez.

Jose Fernandez, 24, the club’s star pitcher, died early Sunday morning in a boating accident near Miami. The team canceled its game that day, but returned at home on Monday night against the New York Mets. Emotion was everywhere – especially considering this would have been a game in which Fernandez pitched.

All the Marlins players wore Fernandez’ jersey, which the club says will not be used again. The Mets commiserated with their grieving compatriots on the field before the game and sat respectfully in the dugout after their 7-3 loss as the Marlins joined in a circle on the pitcher’s mound, slugger Giancarlo Stanton spoke and the crowd chanted Jose.

“This was much bigger than baseball,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “This touched a lot of people. … He touched the game.”

The early tone was set when second baseman Dee Gordon homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning. He circled the bases with tears in his eyes. “Most definitely the most difficult game I ever played in,” he said later.

In the NFL, emotion also ruled. The New Orleans Saints were playing at home against the Atlanta Falcons in a rematch 10 years and a day after their stadium, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, reopened. The building had been damaged severely by Hurricane Katrina and its use as a refuge for displaced citizens in 2005.

Ten years ago, the Saints beat the Falcons 23-3 on an evening marked by raw passion. On this Monday night? They lost 45-32 to the Falcons and dropped to 0-3 on the season.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman