I had just started working an evening shift in 2001. As Sports Editor for The Brazil Times, I was coming in during the evening and putting together pages.

I woke up that Tuesday in September 2001 as usual, turning on the television to see what I missed on Sports Center the night before.

What I saw was quite strange.

As the television was warming up, I heard the voice of Peter Jennings, ABC nightly news anchor.

I distinctly remember having my television set on ESPN the night before. Why am I hearing Peter Jennings.

Still waking up, it took me nearly five minutes to see what was clearly going on.

The Sept. 11 attacks.

At the time, all I could really think about was how strange it was to see the country I live in going through that type of ordeal.

How could this possibly happen?

Then it dawned on me: That's not the real issue. The real issue is hoping that people were OK.

As the day unfolded, it became quite clear that most were, but others were not.

More than 3,000 people died that day. It was the single worst terrorist act I have ever seen.

I knew of a person I graduated with from high school that lived in New York. I just wanted to contact him to make sure he was OK. I really didn't know if he worked in the World Trade Center or not, as I had not been in touch with him for quite some time.

He was fine. But others were not.

Six years later, our country still has to deal with that date every year. It's not a celebration. It's a remembrance. It's a way to honor those who died that day.

They certainly deserve it.

When the prospect of blogging on our website came up for us at The Brazil Times, I wanted to blog on specific things that truly mattered to me.

One of those is the world of sports. I love watching sports and loved covering those events when I was emersed in the sports world.

I also love entertainment. I love movies, television shows, etc.

But Sept. 11 is also a date that is important to me.

It's a date that should be important to all Americans.

A day where we lost. A day we must always remember.

And yet, I can't help but laugh as I'm watching MSNBC Monday morning, Sept. 10, 2007, one day before.

As I'm watching the network, there are discussions about Osama bin Laden and what will be said in Congress about the futrue of Iraq.

Then, long discussions about Britney Spears' performance at the MTV Video Music Awards.

How sad.