It's A Grand Old Flag

Assailed

Hailed

1968

Oct. 18: After finishing first and third, respectively, in the 200 meters at the Mexico City Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos refuse to look at the flag while on the medal stand, giving a Black Power salute instead.

Oct. 26: In a pointed rebuke to Carlos and Smith, heavyweight boxer George Foreman proudly waves a small American flag as he walks around the ring after beating lonas Chepulis of the Soviet Union to win the Olympic gold medal.

1980s

Aug. 4, 1984: After winning the 100 meters at the L.A. Olympics, Carl Lewis grabs a flag from a fan in the stands and carries it during his victory lap; critics say the move was a premeditated publicity stunt, while Lewis insists it was spontaneous.

Feb. 24, 1980: Moments after beating Finland to win the hockey gold medal at the Lake Placid Olympics, U.S. goaltender Jim Craig wraps himself in an American flag that is handed to him by a teenage fan slipping and sliding on the ice.

1990s

Aug. 8, 1992: After winning the gold in basketball, Nike spokesman Michael Jordan uses an American flag to obscure the logo of U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor Reebok on his warm-up jacket during the medal ceremony at the Barcelona Games.

Jan. 27, 1991: During the gulf war, Super Bowl XXV, held at Tampa Stadium, turns into a star-spangled spectacle, highlighted by a rousing rendition of the national anthem by Whitney Houston and a halftime show featuring 2,000 flag-waving children.

2000s

Sept. 30, 2000: After winning the men's 4 x 100 relay at the Sydney Olympics, U.S. sprinters Jon Drummond, Maurice Greene, Brian Lewis and Bernard Williams mugged for photographers and flexed their muscles while draped in an American flag.

Sept. 15, 2001: Even though Ohio State's football game against San Diego State is canceled in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy, 12,000 flag-waving fans show up at Ohio Stadium to honor those who died in Pennsylvania, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.