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Texas Rangers third base coach Gary Pettis still has vivid memories of that day 12 years ago, when two hijacked jets were flown into the World Trade Center towers. Brendan McKay Jersey . Back then, Pettis was a coach for the Chicago White Sox, who had arrived in town only a few hours earlier for a scheduled game that night against the New York Yankees. "You could smell the smoke. It wasnt a good feeling that day," Pettis said Wednesday before a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "Its so sad that so many people lost their lives, and its ruined other peoples lives. ... Its like it was a movie, its like that wasnt something that actually happened. I still cant believe it." What he does believe is the importance for Major League Baseball -- and all Americans -- to take a moment to remember Sept. 11. Players, coaches and umpires wore American flag patches embroidered on the side of their caps in commemoration of the tragedy. Special lineup cards were used, and patriotic on-field tributes were planned for the days 15 games, involving all 30 teams. Flags were half-staff, and there were moments of silence across baseball. There were impromptu remembrances, too. In New York, art students made a chalk drawing in blue and orange on the sidewalk outside Citi Field, showing the Twin Towers, the Mets logo and the words "Never Forget." New York Mets manager Terry Collins wore an NYPD hat and his players wore caps representing other first responders during batting practice before hosting Washington. "Youll always remember how you felt on 9-11," Collins said. With so many tributes planned at the stadium, a memo was written on a board in the Nationals clubhouse -- "Note: Everyone on the field (at) 6:55." Both dugouts were filled with applauding players, managers and coaches as members of rescue and security organizations marched onto the field. The Mets and Nationals then lined up along the baselines for a moment of silence and the national anthem. At Rangers Ballpark in Texas, the 531st U.S. Air Force Quintet performed the national anthem instrumentally. The honorary first pitch was thrown out by former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch, who was 19 when she was captured along with five other soldiers after the U.S. Armys 507th Maintenance Company took a wrong turn and came under attack in Iraq in 2003. She was held for nine days before being rescued. The Cleveland Police Department presented the colours at Progressive Field before the national anthem at the Indians game against Kansas City. Clevelands Jason Giambi was with Oakland when the Athletics were in the 2001 playoffs against the Yankees. He recalled the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium being "unbelievable," even more electric than usual for the post-season. "It will always be a time Ill remember, going out there playing against the Yankees during that time," Giambi said. "It kind of healed the nation, especially the city of New York, which was hit so hard. There they were, the Yankees playing in the playoffs, going all the way to the World Series." Giambi signed with the Yankees after that, and spent seven seasons in New York. "Playing there all those years, the kids, the firefighters, the people who lost their lives saving the other lives, Ill always remember that, very much so," Giambi said. At Cincinnatis Great American Ball Park, where the Reds hosted the Chicago Cubs, a steel beam from the World Trade Center was on display courtesy of the Cincinnati Fire Museum. Before San Francisco hosted Colorado at AT&T Park, first pitches were thrown out by two San Francisco firefighters who went to New York in the days after Sept. 11 to provide help and support. Dean Crispen, captain of Station 28, and Derek OLeary, driver of rescue squad one from Station 1, flew on the first commercial flight allowed to land in New York. Pettis and the White Sox had arrived in New York 12 years ago around 2-3 a.m., and he was awoken by a phone call from a friend checking to make sure he was OK. "I said, Yeah, Im OK, Im asleep. He said, "you dont know, do you?" Pettis recalled. "I turn on the TV and I see that the building -- smokes coming out of the building -- and they said there had been a plane crash." Like so many others, Pettis thought maybe it was just a tragic accident before the second plane hit the other tower. The White Sox were staying in a hotel at Grand Central Station, a little more than three miles from the World Trade Center site. Pettis and the rest of the staff worked to locate everybody with the team, and to get out of the building, with concerns about more potential attacks. "We were going down the stairs and you hear this rumble, and were going what the heck is that?" Pettis said. "We just kind of take off running out the doors, and now we see people running out of the train station, and we had no idea what they were running from." Pettis cant believe its been 12 years. Before going to the ballpark on Wednesday morning, he turned on his TV knowing what he was going to see. "It took me a minute to get up and get my day going because I started watching some of the stories and listening to some of the people talk about being there, and then seeing some of the messages that were left for families," he said. Pirates infielder Clint Barmes remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing 12 years ago. He was only 22 years old in his second season of pro ball, and on the way home after winning the championship with high-A Salem the night before. "I didnt get a chance to see anything on TV until I got home later that evening. ... Had my car already packed ready to go," Barmes said. "I woke up, jumped in my car and started driving home before I realized exactly what happened. "Theres a lot of things that goes through your mind when something like that happens. It was a scary moment for sure." To veteran Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon, it was a day to remember the terrible images on television, and a pal. "One of my best friends in college has just been appointed the head of the N.Y. Port Authority. Neil Levin," he said. "So then Im thinking, OK, Neils pretty cool, hes the boss, hes going to show up late, hes not going to be there early." "As it turns out he was having breakfast that morning in that restaurant on the top floor. So we lost Neil on that one," he said. "So whenever I hear 9-11, this date ... while I was riding my bike today, seeing the flag at half-mast, I thought of Neil." Washington star Bryce Harper was just 8 and at home in Las Vegas when the attacks occurred. "I was in my moms bed, watching TV. I used to watch CHiPs and Saved by the Bell in those days. Then it came on, all over the news," he said Wednesday. "I was trying to understand it, we were trying to decide whether I should go to school." "I remember my dad came right home from work. I remember he came in the door and I ran right to him, gave him a big hug and told him, I love you." Harper said he and some Washington teammates hoped to visit the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza in lower Manhattan late Wednesday night, after their game against the Mets, to see the "Tribute in Light." "We wanted to see the beams," Harper said. "I think its important." Avisail Garcia Rays Jersey . Villarreals victory in Valencia kept it in fourth place and in control of Spains last Champions League spot. Uche broke free in the area in the 10th minute and was brought down by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was shown a direct red card. Don Zimmer Rays Jersey . With the team he supported as a child on the verge of reaching the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 19 years, Ba instead scored the goal that knocked them out. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1486i-chaz-roe-jersey-rays.html . -- Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew practiced in a limited capacity Friday, a positive sign he might be able to play against the Tennessee Titans. LOS ANGELES -- If Donald Sterling is compelled to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the list of potential buyers has more stars than their roster. Oprah Winfrey is contemplating a bid. Sean Combs is a Knicks fan, but he wants in. Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants the whole team. Matt Damon wants a tiny piece. Billionaires, entertainers and athletes alike announced their intentions to pursue the Clippers with varying degrees of seriousness Wednesday, proving the longtime losers will be quite a prize if the NBA is able to wrest control of the team away from Sterling after his lifetime ban for racist remarks. Winfrey led the list, and the media mogul is already bringing in her friends. "Oprah Winfrey is in discussions with David Geffen and Larry Ellison to make a bid for the Los Angeles Clippers should the team become available," spokesperson Nicole Nichols confirmed in an email. If Winfrey joins Geffen, the billionaire entertainment executive, and Oracle CEO Ellison to pool their vast resources for a bid, they could be among the top contenders for a franchise that would be among the most valuable sports properties to hit the market since the Los Angeles Dodgers $2 billion sale in 2012 to the Guggenheim Partners group fronted by Magic Johnson, the Lakers great and another potential Clippers bidder. The Clippers spent the last three decades rotting in the shadow of the glamorous Lakers, who piled up championships while the lowly Clips only racked up losses. With Sterlings ouster, the Clippers suddenly became the most attractive team in town to wealthy fans lining up for an unlikely chance to seize control of a Hollywood sports franchise on the move. David Carter, the executive director of USCs Sports Business Institute, identifies multiple factors contributing to the Clippers extraordinary value. "Interest in the team results from the combination of NBA teams being rare assets that are seldom available for purchase, the location of this particular team, and potential owners belief that revenue streams linked to rehabbing the brand and participating in future revenue linked to a new TV deal all make the team very attractive to prospective buyers," Carter said. For a day, almost everybody seemed interested in being those buyers -- and even entertainers without those limitless resources were clamouring for the chance. Combs, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg all aired their interest, as did longtime Clippers fan Frankie Muniz and Damon, who told CNBC hed like to be a "super tiny minority investor." Fans also got in on the frenzy, opening campaigns on Kickstarter and Crowdtilt to pool their resources for the club. Mayweather spoke seriously about his interest while preparing for his fight with Marcos Maidana this Saaturday, although Money May would have to curb his enthusiastic sports gambling habit. Yandy Diaz Rays Jersey. Oscar De La Hoya, the majority shareholder in Golden Boy Promotions whose statue sits outside Staples Center, volunteered himself as a part-owner. "The league has made it known that it wants more minorities involved, and as a proud Mexican-American, I will bring a different perspective to the NBA in general, and the Clippers in particular," De La Hoya said. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I know what it takes to run a successful sports entity." A vocal segment of the NBAs social media following immediately started a campaign to move the Clippers to Seattle, a basketball-loving city that has been without a team since Clay Bennett moved the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City in 2008. But much of the Clippers value results from their location in the nations second-largest city and their opportunity to sign a lucrative new television rights deal in 2016. The Clippers association with Sterlings racist remarks could have been crushing to their prestige and value, but they dont seem to be a problem if Sterling is no longer associated with the club. "The short term damage has been dramatic, but Commissioner (Adam) Silver provided a tourniquet that has stopped the brand erosion," Carter said. "The NBA, working in conjunction with new ownership, will have an extraordinary opportunity to rehabilitate the teams reputation, and then extend its brand." The Clippers havent been known for success during most of their existence, but thats changing. And whats more, the Clippers are cool. Led by point guard Chris Paul and high-flying forward Blake Griffin -- two All-Stars signed to long-term contracts -- the Clippers have won two straight Pacific Division titles and are on the brink of their third playoff series victory since Sterling bought the team in 1981. The Clippers have captured the imagination of Los Angeles counterculture, the transplants and contrarian fans who arent interested in the Lakers bandwagon. Theyre also attracting more of an international following with each highlight-reel performance by Paul and dunking virtuosos DeAndre Jordan and Griffin, who coined the phrase "Lob City" to describe their daredevil style of play. And it doesnt hurt that the Lakers just finished their worst season in more than 50 years, missing the playoffs for just the third time in 38 seasons. The Lakers appear to be years away from title contention, while the Clippers are built to contend every year in the near future. "Were proud of this team," Clippers guard Jamal Crawford said. "Were proud of our city, and we want to make them proud of us." ' ' '