Silent sports acts speak more loudly

Happy Fourth and let’s hope the sun actually makes an appearance.

The bunting will be hung and the flags will be unfurled with a little extra touch around ballparks of many different baseball leagues this holiday.

It is a time of back to the future, as in baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. Let that all be real.

We are surrounded in today’s sports, as in today’s society, with a lot of false patriotism by those who like to wrap themselves in the flag and put their hands over their hearts. Meanwhile, they have their other hand in your wallet and their minds on their own egos.

Despots of all kinds have always wrapped themselves in false patriotism. In this country that extends to sports because, for better or worse, sports play a major role in the day to day lifestyle of America.

In too many sports arenas we see team owners blaring out “patriotic” songs as part of their own PR spin. Some pro sports owners, to show how patriotic they are, “use” clips of soldiers to run on their video screens and as soon as they have all they can get out of the video, the soldiers and their families are forgotten.

The mix of such false patriotism and religion has also expanded in sports. The public prayers on sports fields by athletes or the never-ending pointing to the sky after a home run have become part of this “see how patriotic and righteous I am” spin.

One can be pretty sure that those athletes who have to engage in such public displays do so with plenty to hide.

There are some big names who were caught in the steroid scandal in MLB that loved to point to the heavens when they launched juiced homers. Maybe they were just pointing to their “pharmacist” in the upper deck.

If one believes in God, it is hard to believe he or she cares about who wins some sporting event or who hits a home run.

That’s another issue. How come ballplayers only do the sky pointing when they hit the dinger, but never for the single or double? Apparently God is in the homer.

Baseball doesn’t need the purveyors of false flag worshipping and syrupy songs. The game continues to provide a relief from everyday woes and worries as it weaves its summer continuum.

Families share visits to the ballpark and rooting interests in teams and players. Box scores still tell wonderful stories over morning coffee.

More importantly, there are many fans, players, and owners who on this holiday – as they do whether it’s a holiday or not – will provide time and tickets to thousands of fans who need a helping hand for a multitude of reasons.

They will use the games as a way to be good people.

These are the Americans who happen to be involved in sports, who join with millions of their fellow countrymen and women in living the example of a nation that reaches out to its own and those around the world when there is a need.

Their silent acts are a heavenly roar that honors their nation.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.