In 1989, I was a 10-year old who became fascinated by baseball more than football during this time. The World Series was in full swing as the two teams (The San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's) were from the same general area......and yes, for the people that are from there will say it's in the same general area. The A's are back after being in the Series last season, falling to the underdog Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants won the NL Pennant by defeating the Chicago Cubs, making it a "Bay Series". Oakland took the first two games at home and had momentum going into Game 3 at Candlestick Park. Baseball fans were ascending to the stadium as others tuned in to ABC for the pre-game coverage by Al Michaels, Tim McCarver and Jim Palmer. A's fans were hoping for a 3-0 lead in the Series, while Giants fans were looking for their team take momentum back at home.

Then it happened.

Without warning, the broadcast was halted by a violent tremor, as you could still hear Michaels commenting on what just happened. Everyone stood frozen wondering. It was determined that an earthquake hit the San Francisco area (6.9) on the Ritcher scale). Pictures and videos of the destruction left behind filled news stations rapidly. CNN and Headline News cancelled their programming to focus on this natural disaster. A surveillance camera showing footage of a supermarket shaking as customers fall or scamper to safety. A driver, unwillingly, has their car descend through a gap on a bridge as the driver behind them quickly put on the brakes after seeing this. Images of bridges collapsing on cars and houses on fire due to a gas leak. People walking and consoling others as they cope from the aftermath. The Bay Area was consumed with wreckage and rubble as the nation stopped for the day to reach out to the people affected.

I've talked to some Northern Californians in my life and they say the same thing: San Francisco and Oakland are polar opposites. Dave Chappelle clarified this in one of his early standup routines. This World Series was considered a territorial rivalry, which meant either you were an A's fan or a Giants fan. Yet, after the quake left its destruction, both teams stopped the rivalry and put their attention on helping the area. As the days passed, 

The Bay Area was beginning to come back to normal. Even though, normal wouldn't be the same. Baseball had to be played again to resume the Series.....and resume the rivalry. But that didn't happen. The teams represented the Area during this and really, everything that occurred after the quake, no one cared who won.

The A's would win the next two games to win the World Series, but it didn't matter. As, I look back at this 30 years ago, bitter rivals across the Bay decided to squash what they had and help the community when it needed. During that time, the United States of America has gone through a lot of tragedies and tribulations. To me, sports can not bring people back, but it helps you heal.

Sports is a beautiful thing.

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