A sports hero who loves America...
As a kid, the sports heroes I grew up watching and reading about all talked of their love and respect for the nation that gave them the opportunities they had...But as we know, in today's world many of the players drawing paychecks and signing lucrative endorsement contracts disrespect our nation by refusing to pledge allegiance to the only country on the planet in which they could have risen to such heights with no more salable skills than handling a ball...Some have even sunk to the depth of expressing their outright hatred for America...But it is their right to do so, and others of us have served and continue to serve the same nation that grants them that right...
In memory of the sports heroes of my childhood, many of which even interrupted their sports careers to fight a war, such as Ted Williams who volunteered for service in WWII at the height of his career, and later returned to fly 39 combat missions as a fighter pilot in the Korean War, I was gratified to read this article today...
Quote:
"After spending these last two days with these Airmen, and I know it’s cliché, but I’m proud to be an American."
Malone did not serve in the military, but has never failed to represent the USA in other ways...Like many others of us imperfect Americans, Malone has had his detractors and his weaknesses...But his love of his country, and his willingness to represent all that is good about America should be exemplary for the sports stars of today...:usa:...Ben
