Today in Sports History: April 25th

(Shawn Bradley's final game was... embarrassing. Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

4/25/1962 - Player traded for... himself

Harry Chiti had a forgettable 10-year career as a big league catcher, with the exception of being a part of one of the oddest trades ever. On April 25, 1962, the Cleveland Indians traded Chiti to the New York Mets for a player to be named later. Chiti played 15 games with the Mets, batting just .195, when the team decided who the player to be named later would be: Harry Chiti. That's right, Harry Chiti was officially traded for himself -- a distinction that Dickie Noles and Brad Gulden would later share.

4/25/1976 - Monday saves flag from burning

In a game between the LA Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, two war protesters ran onto the field with the intention of burning an American flag. But Cubs outfielder Rick Monday stepped in and saved the flag, an act that would make him a notable figure in this country.

To read more about this story, click here for an in-depth Inhistoric article:

4/25/2003 - Cheeks assists anthem singer

In 2005, the Portland Trail Blazers were the most disruptive, trouble-making team in the NBA, so much so that they had been dubbed the "Jail Blazers" by people in the media. And yet, the most genuine display of character that year happened to come from their coach, who would leave to coach Philadelphia 76ers the following season.

Moments before the start of Game 3 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers, 13 year-old Natalie Gilbert stepped up to sing the National Anthem. Gilbert had beaten out several other contestants for the right to sing at a Blazers' postseason game. A few lines in however, Gilbert got flustered struggled to remember the words.

Just as it looked like she wouldn't be able to continue, Portland coach Maurice Cheeks walked over and started to lead her through the words. In one of the most heartwarming moments imaginable, Cheeks and Gilbert sang a duet of the Star-Spangled Banner, with the audience even singing along. By the time they were finished, Cheeks and Gilbert received a rounding ovation from the Portland audience; Cheeks had turned a potentially-devastating moment into something worth remembering.

"He totally saved me, I couldn't even remember the words. I tried to start over again, but the words wouldn't come," Gilbert said. "I was walking off afterward and he said to me 'Don't worry kid, everyone has a bad game once in awhile.'"

"I wish I could help some of my players like that,'' said Cheeks, who acknowledged that his team hadn't been the most model group of citizens. "When some of the guys got into some of those off-the-court problems this season. I told them: 'You're grown men. You have to be in control, and be accountable.'"

The Blazers lost Game 3 and went down 3-0 to the Mavericks. Portland then won the next three games and threatened to become the first team to ever come back from a three-game deficit in the postseason. They lost Game 7 however, 107-95.

For anyone who looks down on the NBA or is just bitter about the human race, all you gotta do is watch this video. 13-year old Natalie Gilbert forgets the words to the National Anthem and Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks goes over to help her out. If this doesn't touch you then you're either a cyborg or a convicted felon.

The ''Jail'' Blazers were the NBA's most disruptive, trouble-making team and it's funny that such an act of character would come from their coach. Portland lost that first round series to Dallas and allowed Cheeks to head to Philadelphia after the season.

4/25/2005 - McGrady tomahawks over Bradley

Tracy McGrady gave soon-to-be-retired center Shawn Bradley the parting gift of a lifetime: a poster immortalizing him forever. With 5:04 left in the first quarter, T-Mac blew past Dirk Nowitzki and powered it over the tallest player in the NBA, dwarfing him in the process. It was the final game of Bradley's career, as he would sit out the rest of the postseason due to injury (what a way to go).

McGrady wasn't done either. After a mid-range turnaround by Nowtizki that tied the game at 111, Tracy waltzed to the front court and sunk a long, game-winning jumper with 2.3 seconds left.

The Rockets captured a 2-0 first round lead with three of the next four games to be played in Houston. But Dallas fought back and won the next two games on the road. The matchup then went to a seventh and decisive game, where the hard-fought series culminated in an anticlimactic 116-76 beat-down by the Mavericks. Houston became just the third team to lose a seven-game series after winning the first two on the road; they would remain competitive for years, but it would take another five seasons for them to get out of the first round.