Patriotism and sports often collide.  When it collides in a good way, it can inspire us in a special way.

It was on this day, April 25th, 1976, that Chicago Cub Rick Monday rescued a U.S. flag from fans who were trying to set it on fire.  Playing on the road against the Dodgers in LA, Rick Monday saw two fans run onto the field and try to set fire to an American flag.  The two people were a father and his 11 year old son.

After Rick grabbed the flag from the two trespassers, he handed it to another player, and the two fans were arrested.  During Rick Monday’s next a bat, he got a tremendously passionate standing ovation.  It was an interesting day at the ball park, whereby the loudest cheers were for patriotism, not baseball.