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Wednesday, September 11, 2002

-- By Robert Dvorchak

As circumstances would have it, the Pirates will board their chartered flight after today's game in Cincinnati and continue their road trip in Philadelphia. Manager Lloyd McClendon is not among those who will be jittery boarding the airplane.

"I don't think like that. I refuse to think like that," McClendon said. "I don't think we should allow ourselves to think like that because if you do, we're defeated. They won. We have to get on with our lives."

The events of Sept. 11 have changed him, however.

"My appreciation for what goes on in life has been heightened. It really puts things in perspective what's really important. I can't say I didn't know that in the first place. But certainly it solidifies things for you," McClendon said.

"Sometimes, as athletes, we get so wrapped up in this sport we think it's everything, and that's really not the case. It's a game. We're very blessed and very fortunate, all of us, to be involved in this game. Sometimes we lose perspective on that. The really important things in life are family, friends and life and health itself."