There are moments in our lifetime when the atmosphere surrounding memorable sports events superseded the game itself and recharged our national pride.

Next Jan. 11 marks the 40th anniversary of a hockey game played at the Philadelphia Spectrum between the Flyers, known as the Broad Street Bullies, and the Soviet Red Army team. The game was played during the height of the Cold War when Soviet-Western political tensions were especially high.Veteran Flyers fans can recall how the organization rolled out the red carpet for their special weapon - Kate Smith - to sing the pre-game anthem for special games. That night, Smith wasn't there in person but her recording of "God Bless America" had the Spectrum rocking before the puck was dropped.On our American pride meter, the Flyers' 4-1 beat-down of the Soviet Army team that day ranks up there with the 1980 Olympic hockey team's Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid.We experienced that same sense of national pride 14 years ago in New York's Shea Stadium but under darker circumstances. The Sept. 22 game between the Mets and Braves was the first baseball game played in New York after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Mets players had the date 9-11-01 with a flag stitched on their right sleeves and wore the hats of the NYPD and Fire Department. They vowed to continue that uniform statement for the rest of the year, even if MLB and the baseball commissioner balked.On that night, the right-field scoreboard was dominated by a 35-by-50-foot vinyl billboard of the stars and stripes.During that pre-game ceremony, both teams lined up for a congratulatory handshake or embrace, similar to the ending of a Stanley Cup playoff series. On that special evening, it was Diana Ross' rendition of "God Bless America" that left many of us teary-eyed, including Mets slugger Mike Piazza, whose two-run homer in the eighth inning won the game.For those of us old enough to remember those transcendent moments in sports, it's hard to imagine citizens of the United States today being blocked from showing their patriotism.Two months ago, a Tennessee school district banned students from bringing all flags, including American flags, to school because officials didn't want to take a chance of it offending others. Those bringing any flags on campus faced expulsion.One official said the ban wasn't necessarily an attack on the American flag and some other issues led to the district's action. For one, the debates over the Confederate flag and its removal from the South Carolina Statehouse sparked controversy over the offensiveness of cultural or national-specific flags in general.Americans willing to stand up to defend our traditional values should call out those seeking to ban the U.S. flag or similar patriotic clothing, all in the name of political correctness.As Americans, we should never be made to feel ashamed of our country or our flag.By JIM ZBICK |

tneditor@tnonline.com