'A Sense of Deep Mourning'

A Nation Puts Its Games on Hold Because 'This Doesn't Mean Very Much Today'

In the wake of terrorist attacks yesterday in New York and Washington, Major League Baseball announced the cancellations of all its scheduled games last night, and the NFL told its 31 teams it will make a decision on whether to play 15 games scheduled on Sunday and Monday within the next 48 hours.

Games and other sporting events were being canceled across the country yesterday, ranging from youth soccer and peewee football practices to the Keeneland horse sale to the highest levels of amateur and professional sports.

The NFL sent a memo to teams signed by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue telling them it was "premature" to say what action the league will take on playing games this weekend.

Tagliabue said in the memo that the league was in the process of gathering information and will talk to the appropriate government authorities before making any decision about Sunday's games.

Last night, Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, said the league will await instructions from President Bush. "Whatever he says, we do," Upshaw said.

The New York Giants are scheduled to play their home opener Sunday against Green Bay at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., across the Hudson River and well within view of the destroyed World Trade Center at the lower end of Manhattan. The Redskins also open at home at FedEx Field with a game against the Arizona Cardinals. The stadium is about 20 miles from the Pentagon, also a terrorist target.

"We'll be speaking with our clubs [Wednesday]," said Joe Browne, senior vice president of communications and government affairs for the league. "We'll have a decision as quickly as possible."

The NFL came under heavy criticism for playing its games the same week President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. The league played its Sunday schedule two days later, and late Commissioner Pete Rozelle called the move one of his biggest regrets.

The league also will see how baseball responds at a time when Barry Bonds is attempting to reach 70 home runs and pennant races are going on, especially in the National League.

Karl Swanson, a spokesman for the Redskins, said, "clearly we will play if everybody else plays. Right now, we're preparing to play a game in our stadium. We're comfortable with that. We would also augment our normal security, which is already extensive."

The Redskins did not practice yesterday because Tuesday is the players' day off. Coach Marty Schottenheimer and his staff were at Redskins Park, preparing a game plan for the Cardinals.

In Baltimore, the Orioles had no immediate word about potential makeup dates, nor about the status of the games tonight and Thursday night against Toronto.