National Anthem at Sporting Events

I believe the National Anthem should not be played at all sporting events. Before you call me un-patriotic, and the devil, hear me out.

Sporting events are not that important. It's just a game. There is no need to attach national pride to a meaningless regular season baseball game between the Astros and Diamondbacks.

Play it in the Superbowl. Play it in International competition. But to play it every game lessens the importance of the anthem at the cost of making sports seem more important than they are.

I could get into the whole sports exploiting 9/11 thing, but I won't. Basically my point is that it's just a game, not that big of a deal.

So, should the National Anthem be played at all sporting events?

I could live without it, but it seems like a nice remembrance, and I don't think there can ever be too much of that.

I think if someone assigns more to it than that, like assigning motive (i.e., you must be unpatriotic) if it's NOT played, is a little ridiculous.

I think it's more important to say the pledge before government meetings at any level (city council to U. S. Congress) than it is to play the anthem before games. It's almost a reminding of the oaths that elected leaders take. Sure, leaders may or may not follow their oaths, but it shouldn't be due to failure to be reminded of it.

i think they should Not play the anthem at the Republican Debate (watching Nadal get killed at the US open on CBS, on another TV in the lounge I heard the national anthem. I thought it was a sporting event. Turns out it was Newt and the boys. Why the national anthem? To prove that the Republican party is more patriotic. I've heard that they sacrifice idols at the Democrat conventions... :)

Honestly, if the anthems weren't played at sporting events, would we have a clue to what the words to our national anthems were? That's why I don't mind hearing them. I mean if they were just played during the World Series or the Superbowl, what would the over/under be on the number of forgotten words???

Please stop it with the anthem before every bloody game. In the UK, the anthem is played for international games, as the players on the team are all from one country. Played before the BIG games makes a lot of sense. Every little game... yawn.

It is meaningless to sing O-Canada before a Canucks game when the team is from Swede, Russia, the US and Canada. Worse still is getting both the US and Canadian anthem played at a game between teams from Vancouver and Minnesota. Why not the BC and Minnesota anthems? Why not the fight songs for both teams? Why not the number one at the time?

Quote: thecesspit

It is meaningless to sing O-Canada before a Canucks game when the team is from Swede, Russia, the US and Canada.

Unless it isn't. See: May 23, 2006.

Although, I guess if the anthems weren't played on the 21st, maybe none of that disgraceful mess would have happened in the first place...

I have no idea what you are referring to.

I don't like the national anthem, but the real issue is that people need to not give me dirty looks or worse for not taking off my hat and standing reverently while you pray to a piece of cloth. If you want to be nationalistic, thats fine, but the fact that some people get so pissed when I do not participate in flag worship is completely innappropriate.

Quote: bigfoot66

I don't like the national anthem, but the real issue is that people need to not give me dirty looks or worse for not taking off my hat and standing reverently while you pray to a piece of cloth. If you want to be nationalistic, thats fine, but the fact that some people get so pissed when I do not participate in flag worship is completely innappropriate.

Perhaps you should accept the fact that if you are going to be a nonconformist most people are not going to like it.

Quote: boymimbo

Honestly, if the anthems weren't played at sporting events, would we have a clue to what the words to our national anthems were?

It depends on where you live.

I've no idea if the national anthem is played at sporting events in Mexico, it's been decades since I attended one. But at school we had a weekly flag ceremony complete with symbolic escort, standard-bearer and we sang the national anthem. For good measure we also took out the Israeli flag and sang their national anthem, why with being a Jewish school and all.

BTW Mexico should change its national anthem. for starters the name is bland. It's called "Mexican national anthem." Who the hell calls their anthem that? Come on, The Star-spangled Banner, God Save the Queen, O Canada, Le Marseillaise, Ha'atikva, those are good names, or at least more imaginative than a mere noun

Quote:

That's why I don't mind hearing them. I mean if they were just played during the World Series or the Superbowl, what would the over/under be on the number of forgotten words???

It should be taught in school. We learned about it in music class, of all places. Guess Civics 101 wasn't good enough for the lame song.

Quote: FinsRule

I believe the National Anthem should not be played at all sporting events.

I might agree with you except that there would be such a fuss at changing it that it wouldnt be worth it.

Quote: rdw4potus

Unless it isn't. See: May 23, 2006.

Although, I guess if the anthems weren't played on the 21st, maybe none of that disgraceful mess would have happened in the first place...

Sorry, clarifying now:

May 23, 2006 was the date on which all of Rexall place in Edmonton sung O Canada together. May 21st is the date when the "fans" at The Pond in Anaheim booed the Canadian National Anthem.

Quote: FinsRule

I believe the National Anthem should not be played at all sporting events.

Started in this country as a War Bond sales pitch during WW Two.

Consider yourself lucky--In England, God Save the Queen is also played before concerts, movies etc. But then it is a nicer tune.

I think the anthem should be sung 100 times a day by EVERY politician to remind them that they are trying to enrich our country, not themselves.

Quote: matilda

Consider yourself lucky--In England, God Save the Queen is also played before concerts, movies etc. But then it is a nicer tune.

Since when? Never happened at any concert or movie I ever went to. Never happens at regular football (soccer) games or rugby events.

Quote: thecesspit

Since when? Never happened at any concert or movie I ever went to. Never happens at regular football (soccer) games or rugby events.

Probably old memories for me. I guess they have changed. I hear there is actually ice in pub drinks now.

Heard this on local sports radio who were doing some national anthem talk ... going by memory, you might check against anthem-wiki or whatever ...

The anthem was first played at a sporting event in 1918 during the 7th inning stretch at a Cubs home game at whatever-it-was-called-before-they-called-it-Wrigley Field. At the time, it was common to have a military band on hand for entertainment. For some reason, they played the anthem one day. I'm not sure of exactly what was going on, but it was evidently a time of some national malaise ... close on the heels of WWI, etc. One of the Cubs players was on military leave, and upon hearing the first few notes, immediately snapped to attention. The other players followed in civilian manner ... hand-over-heart, etc. By the end of the song, the whole stadium was participating.

From there, they played the anthem at 7th inning stretch of, like, Series games, other big games, international games, etc. Not every time.

When WWII came about, it became played at all events and the tradition was born. It *might* have been some trick to sell bonds, but I don't think they needed the anthem at games to do that, so I think that's a cynical conclusion. I think it's more likely that it was a sign of patriotism and remembrance.

Evidently, the anthem was done pretty straight-up until in 1964 when Jose Feliciano stylized it for the first time. Nothing notable to us today, but at the time was something completely different. Stylized versions of the anthem became vogue, with Henrix's probably the most famous. But at sporting events, it still stayed pretty straight-up.

Anyway, we see stylized anthems a lot more now. Some of the more famous ones ...
* Marvin Gaye at the 1983(4?) NBA All-Star game - madrigal-like smooth jazz beat underneath
* Whitney Houston at the SB XXV - first notable use of 4/4 time signature
* Roseanne Barr at SD Padres baseball game - blech

If I had to rate my Top 5 anthems ever, straight-up and/or stylized, they would be ...
5. 2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
4. 1992 NHL All-Star Game in Chicago
3. USA:Italy 2006 World Cup
2. Whitney Houston at SB XXV
1. 1980 US hockey medal ceremony

Quote: matilda

Consider yourself lucky--In England, God Save the Queen is also played before concerts, movies etc. But then it is a nicer tune.

I got to sing "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" before the England:USA match in the World Cup last summer!