Red, White, and Blue Monday
Thirty years ago Major League Baseball player Rick Monday grabbed an American flag from two people as they sat on the field attempting to set it on fire. He was hailed as a hero. What of the protestors?
From a very good article about Monday, the flag, and the times a couple of notes about the "protestors" -- William Thomas and his 11 year-old son:
"We have forgotten that William Thomas was an unemployed, probably drunk and certainly deranged man protesting his wife's hospitalization; he is now assumed to have been some sort of anti-war hippie."
"The man who tried to burn the American Flag at Dodger Stadium was attempting to draw attention to what he claims is his wife's 'imprisonment' in a Missouri mental institution, authorities say.' (LAT, 4/30/1976)"
I predict this won't be popular, but politics do not belong at sporting events.
For example, playing of the national anthem or any song popularized by Kate Smith. But if you disagree and insist on politicizing the sport, how can you not expect protests?
If you want to know more about the history of flag burning as a protest.
