The Niner: Patriotic moments in sports

Every week I will give you my NINE. I will come up with the topics, however I am more than open to suggestions. These are my top nine, feel free to comment in the rare case that I have overlooked something. You can always drop me a suggestion via e-mail; insiders@999thefan.com.

This week I felt the need to honor the Fourth of July. The Niner is putting on its stars and stripes button-down shirt to get in the spirit of our nation's holiday. Let’s celebrate the greatest country on earth with a very American "Niner."

The Nine Most Patriotic Moments in Sports:

9 – Kerrie Strug/ Mary Lou Retton – Choose your limping to victory Olympic gymnast. 1996 Olympic hero, Strug fights off emmence pain in her ankle to secure one last vault for team victory. In 1984, Retton fights off knee surgery earlier that year, to score a perfect 10 and a gold medal. Little known fact, her picture on the front of the Wheaties box is “life size.”

8 – Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier – On April 15, 1947, one man stepped onto a playing field known as America’s Favorite Pastime and changed that game forever.

7 – Pat Tillman Turns Down NFL to Serve Country - In May of 2002, Tillman turned down a 3 yr. $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army.

6 – 9/11 George Bush Throws First Pitch – The 2001 World Series game in New York, one month after the terrorist attacks, President Bush was told that it may not be in his best interest to stand in front of 57,000 fans and throw out the first pitch. He chose to prove to his country that fighting terror meant, “living as normal a life as we can.”

5 – 1999 Ryder Cup – All Ben Crenshaw asked was that his team just believe. His team went on to get 8 ½ points on the last day fueling the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup History.

4 – Whitney Houston’s National Anthem – In 1991, the Gulf War was just underway. Many people debated whether it was right for America to allow the Super Bowl to even be played. Whitney Houston belts out a heart felt “normal” version the National Anthem to tears and flags waving.

3 – Jesse Owens - The 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany were supposed to be known for dominance by German athletes. Jesse Owens had different plans capturing 4 gold medals.

2 – Jack Buck’s poem after 9/11 - On September 17, 2001, the first night of baseball after the terrorist attacks, a worn down Buck deliver’s a heart felt poem “ I don’’t know about you, but as for me, the question has already been answered: Should we be here? Yes!”

1 – Miracle on Ice – On Febuary 22, in the 1980 winter Olympics in Lake Placid a group of amateurs and collegiates, defeated Communist Russia’s “machine” known as the Soviet Union Hockey team. “Do you believe in miracles? YES!!”