If you happened to be at the Walden's bookstore in the Indian River Mall in Vero Beach, Florida this weekend and thought you saw former Cub, Rick Monday, odds are pretty good you did.

Monday was signing copies of "Tales From The Dodger Dugout." According to the local paper, however, many of those interested in meeting Rick wanted to shake his hand and thank him personally for rescuing the American flag from those two dopes on the field at Dodger Stadium back in '76.

I considered dropping by Walden's to get an autograph (Rick Monday ranks #2 on my list of all-time favorite Cubs, trailing only Don Kessinger). Then I flashed forward to an uncomfortable encounter during which I would become all tongue-tied, struggle to ask some awkward question about what it was like to play with Jose Cardenal and Bill Bonham, and inadvertently frustrate all of the old VFW guys waiting in line to talk to Monday about saving the flag.

We went to the beach instead.