While the World Baseball Classic is supposed to be a showcase of the best players in the world competing for their countries, the tournament is lacking in drawing power. Whether it’s players pulling out, or pulling up lame fans of their local nine either don’t have their players in the fight or hold their collective breath until all of them return to their teams safely.

So when looking for a silver lining in this albatross of a tournament, its kind of fitting that someone who knows something of returning safely would bring the brightest spot to the tournament in the form of Sgt. Felix Perez, who carried a flag to the game that he brought with him from his home to his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Image: Newsday

Yahoo: It accompanied Perez to Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night. He needed some luck for his team, the United States, in its must-win World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico. Perez wore a Team USA hat and a Team USA hoodie, and his little sister, Jessica, draped his flag across her shoulders. The United States’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning sent them into a frenzy. She danced around. He sat in his motorized wheelchair and roared.

On the way out, the 27-year-old Perez placed the flag in his lap and leaned over to a security guard manning Gate G. He was hoping some players from Team USA might sign it.

While this might seem like a small request what happened next was truly remarkable.

“The next thing I know,” Perez said, “I’m getting called to come back in there.”

And so began the coolest 30 minutes of Felix Perez’s life. On an evening when he felt especially proud to be an American – when a group of his sporting heroes wearing his country’s name across their chests banded together to win a game they had no business winning – Perez found himself surrounded by them, doused with celebratory Miller Lites, with the American flag that was with him during the worst moment of his life passed around the room and signed by every player on the team.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

Then they handed him a ball filled with signatures.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

The half-hour went too fast. Jimmy Rollins, who scored the winning run, wanted to chat more. David Wright, who drove it in, couldn’t hear enough about how the New York Mets are Perez’s favorite team. Almost half the team surrounded Perez for a photograph, the flag draped around his torso, a smile on every face, and none brighter than his.

Now that is a true class act from a team that has often felt like the rod team in their own country – These players took time that they didn’t have to give to offer a tribute to a real hero who risked his life so that they could play the game he loves every day.

Even if the team falls short in winning the tournament, yesterday’s event shows that they have already won and hopefully won over some fans.

While the World Baseball Classic is supposed to be a showcase of the best players in the world competing for their countries, the tournament is lacking in drawing power. Whether it’s players pulling out, or pulling up lame fans of their local nine either don’t have their players in the fight or hold their collective breath until all of them return to their teams safely.

So when looking for a silver lining in this albatross of a tournament, its kind of fitting that someone who knows something of returning safely would bring the brightest spot to the tournament in the form of Sgt. Felix Perez, who carried a flag to the game that he brought with him from his home to his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Image: Newsday

Yahoo: It accompanied Perez to Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night. He needed some luck for his team, the United States, in its must-win World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico. Perez wore a Team USA hat and a Team USA hoodie, and his little sister, Jessica, draped his flag across her shoulders. The United States’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning sent them into a frenzy. She danced around. He sat in his motorized wheelchair and roared.

On the way out, the 27-year-old Perez placed the flag in his lap and leaned over to a security guard manning Gate G. He was hoping some players from Team USA might sign it.

While this might seem like a small request what happened next was truly remarkable.

“The next thing I know,” Perez said, “I’m getting called to come back in there.”

And so began the coolest 30 minutes of Felix Perez’s life. On an evening when he felt especially proud to be an American – when a group of his sporting heroes wearing his country’s name across their chests banded together to win a game they had no business winning – Perez found himself surrounded by them, doused with celebratory Miller Lites, with the American flag that was with him during the worst moment of his life passed around the room and signed by every player on the team.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

Then they handed him a ball filled with signatures.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

The half-hour went too fast. Jimmy Rollins, who scored the winning run, wanted to chat more. David Wright, who drove it in, couldn’t hear enough about how the New York Mets are Perez’s favorite team. Almost half the team surrounded Perez for a photograph, the flag draped around his torso, a smile on every face, and none brighter than his.

Now that is a true class act from a team that has often felt like the rod team in their own country – These players took time that they didn’t have to give to offer a tribute to a real hero who risked his life so that they could play the game he loves every day.

Even if the team falls short in winning the tournament, yesterday’s event shows that they have already won and hopefully won over some fans.

While the World Baseball Classic is supposed to be a showcase of the best players in the world competing for their countries, the tournament is lacking in drawing power. Whether it’s players pulling out, or pulling up lame fans of their local nine either don’t have their players in the fight or hold their collective breath until all of them return to their teams safely.

So when looking for a silver lining in this albatross of a tournament, its kind of fitting that someone who knows something of returning safely would bring the brightest spot to the tournament in the form of Sgt. Felix Perez, who carried a flag to the game that he brought with him from his home to his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Image: Newsday

Yahoo: It accompanied Perez to Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night. He needed some luck for his team, the United States, in its must-win World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico. Perez wore a Team USA hat and a Team USA hoodie, and his little sister, Jessica, draped his flag across her shoulders. The United States’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning sent them into a frenzy. She danced around. He sat in his motorized wheelchair and roared.

On the way out, the 27-year-old Perez placed the flag in his lap and leaned over to a security guard manning Gate G. He was hoping some players from Team USA might sign it.

While this might seem like a small request what happened next was truly remarkable.

“The next thing I know,” Perez said, “I’m getting called to come back in there.”

And so began the coolest 30 minutes of Felix Perez’s life. On an evening when he felt especially proud to be an American – when a group of his sporting heroes wearing his country’s name across their chests banded together to win a game they had no business winning – Perez found himself surrounded by them, doused with celebratory Miller Lites, with the American flag that was with him during the worst moment of his life passed around the room and signed by every player on the team.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

Then they handed him a ball filled with signatures.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

The half-hour went too fast. Jimmy Rollins, who scored the winning run, wanted to chat more. David Wright, who drove it in, couldn’t hear enough about how the New York Mets are Perez’s favorite team. Almost half the team surrounded Perez for a photograph, the flag draped around his torso, a smile on every face, and none brighter than his.

Now that is a true class act from a team that has often felt like the rod team in their own country – These players took time that they didn’t have to give to offer a tribute to a real hero who risked his life so that they could play the game he loves every day.

Even if the team falls short in winning the tournament, yesterday’s event shows that they have already won and hopefully won over some fans.

While the World Baseball Classic is supposed to be a showcase of the best players in the world competing for their countries, the tournament is lacking in drawing power. Whether it’s players pulling out, or pulling up lame fans of their local nine either don’t have their players in the fight or hold their collective breath until all of them return to their teams safely.

So when looking for a silver lining in this albatross of a tournament, its kind of fitting that someone who knows something of returning safely would bring the brightest spot to the tournament in the form of Sgt. Felix Perez, who carried a flag to the game that he brought with him from his home to his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Image: Newsday

Yahoo: It accompanied Perez to Dolphin Stadium on Tuesday night. He needed some luck for his team, the United States, in its must-win World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico. Perez wore a Team USA hat and a Team USA hoodie, and his little sister, Jessica, draped his flag across her shoulders. The United States’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning sent them into a frenzy. She danced around. He sat in his motorized wheelchair and roared.

On the way out, the 27-year-old Perez placed the flag in his lap and leaned over to a security guard manning Gate G. He was hoping some players from Team USA might sign it.

While this might seem like a small request what happened next was truly remarkable.

“The next thing I know,” Perez said, “I’m getting called to come back in there.”

And so began the coolest 30 minutes of Felix Perez’s life. On an evening when he felt especially proud to be an American – when a group of his sporting heroes wearing his country’s name across their chests banded together to win a game they had no business winning – Perez found himself surrounded by them, doused with celebratory Miller Lites, with the American flag that was with him during the worst moment of his life passed around the room and signed by every player on the team.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

Then they handed him a ball filled with signatures.

“Everybody,” Perez said.

The half-hour went too fast. Jimmy Rollins, who scored the winning run, wanted to chat more. David Wright, who drove it in, couldn’t hear enough about how the New York Mets are Perez’s favorite team. Almost half the team surrounded Perez for a photograph, the flag draped around his torso, a smile on every face, and none brighter than his.

Now that is a true class act from a team that has often felt like the rod team in their own country – These players took time that they didn’t have to give to offer a tribute to a real hero who risked his life so that they could play the game he loves every day.

Even if the team falls short in winning the tournament, yesterday’s event shows that they have already won and hopefully won over some fans.