Nine Innings from Ground Zero (2004)

All too often, I think that baseball fans get a bit too caught up in the everyday minutiae of the game to reflect on what the sport really means to them. A few examples would be criticizing the manager for a pitching change or getting on the case of a batter in a terrible slump. However, this DVD will remind you that the game of baseball stands for so much more.This documentary really shines on two different levels. First, is the action transpiring on the field. Starting with President George W. Bush throwing out the opening pitch (a perfect strike) at Yankee Stadium on the first night back after the terrible 9/11 disaster, the film chronicles the Yankees' amazing run to a division title, a playoff series (against Oakland) that might have been lost if not for Derek Jeter sprinting out of nowhere, and the intensely dramatic World Series that, although it didn't end well for NY, contained a decade-worth of Yankee Stadium drama. The filmmakers are able to very effectively turn those events into a sort of metaphor for the city of New York.The second level this movie succeeds on is in recounting the personal stories that were going on "behind the scenes" while the Yankees and Mets were doing their best to entertain the masses. In one instance, a young girl who lost her father on 9/11 only began finding herself again after a simple phone conversation with Derek Jeter. On other occasions, NYC firefighters and rescue workers were touched by personal appearances from Yankee players, allowing them (if only for a brief time) to think of something other than the terrible events that were involved in. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is also a very articulate presence throughout the film, as his words serve as a representation for the entire New York population at that time. Despite their sorrow, they wanted to see their Yankees.As a person who has also experienced a difficult time in my life and been helped through it by the steadying presence of baseball, I found this documentary to be a very accurate portrayal of the lingering emotions during that time period. Through all the fear and anxiety, the sport of baseball was able to provide fans a respite (even if at first they were wary of looking at anything the same again) from the shocking events/changes around them. And that, ultimately, is the legacy of this fine sport...bringing people together over a common interest.Thus, I recommend viewing this film on every September 11th from now until eternity, as it will help you remember how a frightened nation was helped to be resurrected by a simple (yet oh so grand) game.

For the people saying anything baseball oriented you should just shut you mouth. When it comes to this documentary you people should understand that this was about the affect baseball had on peoples lives that were constantly reminded of those tragic events on 9/11. Just because you people weren't in New York or around it when it happened doesn't mean you should dismiss this and try to undercut the affect it had on people. I lived in Connecticut, about 20 minutes out of the city and even I was affected. Talk to the millions of lives that were affected by this or try explaining to the little girl that lost her father and than the Yankees send her to hang out with the team and talk to Derek Jeter. Did you people just not feel connected or is it jealousy that allows you to appear to be such dumb asses. You people say that this was lame obviously didn't know (and still don't) that you witnessed the best World Series ever. I am a Yankees fan and I am saying that and they lost. You had Jeter's flip play - Jeter backhanding a ball in the stands - Tino's shot to tie with 1 out left- Jeter becoming Mr. November - Scott Brosius doing it again the next night off the same closer- and than the Diamondbacks beating the Yanks. It was magical and it gave people something to believe in. Maybe its just that you don't have memories of sports becoming something bigger than you ever thought it could be. Maybe your teams never gave you anything to believe in and move you to emotions you didn't think you could express as fans. I highly recommend this documentary and for those of you that hate on it I just simply feel bad for.Gary aka Coach K

If you want, read my review but SpeechProf's review says it best. His review was right on the money.Anyway, This is your typical New Yorkian movie where the Yankees and New Yorkians' happiness are all that matter when a tragedy occurs in the almighty city of New York and the only thing left to save their lives from the misery that was 911 are the Yankees winning it all!Pathetic! Although, I do like the ending where the D'backs beat the Yanks. :) A little advice for you New Yorkians. Baseball is just a game. Death is death and baseball can not bring back what so many have lost that horrible day. Honestly, I really can't think of a movie that outraged me more than this one. This tops them all and then some and made me so inspired to actually want to write a review on it. Anyway, do yourself a favor and pass on this garbage even if you have the slightest curiosity of what it's all about. It's just not worth your time.

...could the renewed strength and spirit that all New Yorkers felt possibly have gone even higher? It's doubtful. The city had already reached a zenith when the Yankees took all three home games during the series. What had started as continued mourning at the beginning of the series did indeed change to hope and cheering and even happiness for the people of New York. It was just what they needed. Just what the doctor ordered.I loved the advice Derek Jeter had for George W. who was to throw out the first pitch for their home game... You can't stand in front of the mound... they'll boo you. And don't bounce it in... or they'll boo you. Left Dubba feeling a little insecure, but he did just fine with the pitch, after all.And I didn't know that one of the umpires was really a secret-service agent. Not during the game, of course, just during the opening pitch.This documentary is just short enough to have kept me interested. It flashes into new subjects quickly and tries to give a piece of information about everything. The world series is background for everything else presented. It contains no mushiness, no pro-America propaganda, not even any anti-terrorist themes... it just shows us how that world series was able to change the feelings of us all. To help us mend.