You might think the sociopolitical landscape 50 years ago was a lot different than it is today, and, in part, you would be right.
I certainly think loving your country was a far more universally accepted sentiment around the time of the bicentennial than it is in the modern day.
Members of the Communist Party USA and other anti-fascist groups burn an American flag on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Jan. 20, 2021. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)
That doesn’t mean there weren’t still stupid anti-American demonstrations taking place even back in 1976, and one example took place 50 years ago today at Dodger Stadium.
On April 25, 1976, as the Chicago Cubs were warming up on the field to start the bottom of the fourth inning, two protesters raced onto the field and set fire to an American flag.
LIBERAL PUNDITS CALL TEAM USA HOCKEY PLAYERS ‘MORONS,’ SCOLD GOLD MEDALISTS OVER TRUMP CALL
Not that it matters what their reasoning was, but it turns out the guy doing the flag burning was protesting his wife being put in a mental health facility (remember those?).
Regardless of the reason, one man had seen enough.
Cubs outfielder Rick Monday raced over between at-bats and snatched the flag from the protesters, handing it over to the Dodgers’ dugout.
DAVID MARCUS: GEN X KNOWS THE ONLY FORCE THAT CAN DEFEAT VIOLENT LEFTIST PROTEST CULTURE
When Monday got up to bat the next inning, he was met with a standing ovation from the opposing crowd, as well as a message on the scoreboard that read, “RICK MONDAY… YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY!”
When asked about the reason why he stopped the flag burning, Monday replied, “If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it around me. I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.”
What a patriot!
Aaron Judge watches the field during the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami, Fla., on March 15, 2026. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos)
Monday won a World Series and was named to two All-Star teams, but this might be his most memorable accomplishment in the Majors.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
How refreshing is it to see an athlete who loves his country so much instead of the ones we have nowadays who can’t wait to bash the very soil that gave them every opportunity to succeed?
These days, when our athletes show even the slightest shred of patriotism — like our U.S. Men’s hockey team did — they get chastised and browbeaten into submission by fans and members of the media alike.
Connor Hellebuyck and members of the U.S. men’s hockey team receive a standing ovation as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
No wonder guys like Monday are a dying breed in pro sports.
For America’s 250th birthday, we should all try to be a little more like Rick Monday. A little patriotism can go a long way.
Discount Applied Successfully!
Your savings have been added to the cart.