It was interesting to see that a few days ago, it was the 32nd anniversary of Rick Monday's greatest highlight. The interesting thing about it, this wasn't a game winning home run or a diving catch.
The game at Dodger Stadium, pitted the boys in blue against the Chicago Cubs and Monday was out in centerfield,
"In between the top and bottom of the fourth inning, I was just getting loose in the outfield, throwing the ball back and forth. Jose Cardenal was in left field and I was in center. I don't know if I heard the crowd first or saw the guys first, but two people ran on the field. After a number of years of playing, when someone comes on the field, you don't know what's going to happen. Is it because they had too much to drink? Is it because they're trying to win a bet? Is it because they don't like you or do they have a message that they're trying to present?
"When these two guys ran on the field, something wasn't right. And it wasn't right from the standpoint that one of them had something cradled under his arm. It turned out to be an American flag. They came from the left-field corner, went past Cardenal to shallow left-center field.
"That's when I saw the flag. They unfurled it as if it was a
picnic blanket. They knelt beside it, not to pay homage but to harm it as one of the guys was pulling out of his pocket somewhere a big can of lighter fluid. He began to douse it.
"What they were doing was wrong then, in 1976. In my mind, it's wrong now, in 2006. It's the way I was raised. My thoughts were reinforced with my six years in the Marine Corp Reserves. It was also reinforced by a lot of friends who lost their lives protecting the rights and freedoms that flag represented.
"So I started to run after them. To this day, I couldn't tell you what was running through my mind except I was mad, I was angry and it was wrong for a lot of reasons."
Yes, two guys were about to set a flag on fire, at a baseball game. Personally, this is wrong on the same levels Monday thought it was offensive. I don't care what other people political affiliation is and how they view flag burning, but trying to do it at a baseball is not the time or a place. Baseball is a pastime, where people go to relax and escape politics (which is why I hate politicians throwing out first pitches). Baseball is not a place or event to burn the symbol of our country.Monday was able to save the flag and the Dodger fans let him know he did a great job, cheering his move and even giving him praise on the scoreboard. It really gives us a new meaning to a hero, reading the write up from Major League Baseball, Monday, like many of us, have dealt with those who fight to protect that flag and this country. Again, I don't care what your politics are and whether or not you agree with the Iraqi war and the war on terror, but we have people who fought for freedom and to protect it.
Monday's Story
This is very reminiscent of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
Abdul-Rauf refused to stand during the national anthem, because he felt that looking and acknowledging the flag was acknowledging a "symbol of tyranny". Now looking and remembering that statement and event on the surface it felt like it was very political and selfish. However, reading the link from the New York Times, it really gives you a real perspective on different religious views and outlooks on the world.
However, he still still what he did and here's my feeling, you live in America. Every week the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings gave you a check, you earned in America and due to the rights and privileges you have being born and raised in America, the least you could do was stand for the national anthem.
The NBA compromised, telling Abdul-Rauf to stand, but he could close his eyes and use the time to pray. This was beneficial since he would recite a Muslim prayer.
It's interesting how sometimes sports can take a larger meaning to sporting events.
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