Five days after the World Trade Center tragedy, athletes, actors, and other celebrities came together for "Shaqtacular VI," a charity event led by Shaquille O'Neal at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. In an afternoon of games so wacky that even those explaining the rules seemed confused, upwards of $500,000 was raised to help a variety of children's causes supported by Athletes and Entertainers for Kids, with a portion donated to the Red Cross and the firemen of New York City.

To cancel this event in the wake of tragedy would have only stolen opportunity from those who depend on the proceeds from this yearly event. "It's been a very, very sad week," said Shaq. "We considered cancelling the event, but I just wanted to put something upbeat in the kids' and the people's heads. This is something that obviously will never be forgotten, but in showing patriotism of being an American, we had to regroup."

The show had to go on, and on it went. No celebrity who could make it to L.A. backed out of their appearance. For many, Saturday was a chance to see that remembrance and joy can coexist. Remembrance, as in pop star Jessica Simpson kicking off the day by belting an emotional Star-Spangled Banner. And joy, as in when she finished with a breezy, crowd-pleasing pop number.

The spectacle of fitness/motivational guru Billy Blanks leading a group of bumbling celebrities (David Arquette doesn't stretch very often, apparently ) through a Tae-Bo warm up caused laughter to rise. When Damon Wayans, once a quarterback in The Last Boy Scout, took a Vaudevillian spill during a football event and got up smiling, that laughter grew stronger.

And it was okay. Watching gape-mouthed children chase after Shaq brought smiles to adults who've felt nothing but negativity for five days. One kid from a local youth group in attendance just stared at Shaq, paralyzed with awe, and repeated, "He's just so big!"

"I'm glad Shaq's doing this," said Tom Arnold, "because these kids [benefiting from the event] have been disappointed enough in life. Let's be honest. Just the idea that some of these kids have had such a rough go at life that this is not the worst thing that's ever happened to them ... the worst that's ever happened already happened to them. We gotta remember that."

Or as Tony Hawk succinctly put it, "We have to show the kids that we can persevere."

Andy and Brian Kamenetzky are frequent contributors to ESPN The Magazine. E-mail anetzkyk@aol.com.