Patriotism more important than a covered infield

ARLINGTON, Texas - There was a hilarious scene during the national anthem before Friday night's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series:

BJ Thomas was singing "The Star-Spangled Banner'' in light rain when it started pouring. The Rangers Ballpark grounds crew, which was waiting with the tarp partially unrolled in short leftfield, started to unroll it further with the intention of covering the infield.

One problem: A color guard from a local Marine outfit was standing at attention on the infield grass with the American flag. The soldiers had their backs to the ground crew, which brought the tarp all the way in until it was just behind the color guard.

The color guard didn't move - the anthem still was being sung - and the grounds crew waited.

Then, when Thomas was finished, the color guard began marching toward the third-base line. The grounds crew resumed unrolling the tarp, nearly clipping the boots of the soldiers as they marched off.

Finally, with the color guard off, the grounds crew covered the infield. Then the rain let up and the tarp came off about five minutes later.