The National Anthem at Sporting Events

[Bark's Lounge]

The song is out dated (200 years old) and in it's entirety, it is racist. I don't like what is going on in the USA right now, but I'd certainly rather live here than Papua New Guinea or Liberia and any other place for that matter.

 

Patriotism to me is what one can do as a collective to make the country better. It's not about a stupid song or any idealism... that is why we fail. We also fail because a majority of this country is in a uneducated dark age.

 

We will continue to fail if that problem is not addressed.

 

Win Twins!!!

[ashbury]

Anyone who has, for instance, worked for a multinational company and brought an overseas colleague to a game will understand that "but, but, but PATRIOTISM!" isn't actually an unassailable argument for playing the SSB in that circumstance. The whole tradition looks very strange to anyone coming in from outside. (Of course it's the nature of the fascist to be very wary of outsiders in the first place, but I digress.)

[Mr. Brooks]

Is there anything more American then civil disobedience? Surely the Tea Party nuts stand behind the players right? Or is it possible the don't really understand what the Tea Party was named after.

Well the events that the Tea Party is named after were certainly NOT civil disobedience, actually.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't understand why it is played, frankly. Thankfully it isn't before movies, or concerts, or most anything else.

 

Of course, we all know that sports exist primarily as a means of the powerful to distract the masses (actually, historically, partly true......)

[Craig Arko]

I don't understand why it is played, frankly. Thankfully it isn't before movies, or concerts, or most anything else.

 

Of course, we all know that sports exist primarily as a means of the powerful to distract the masses (actually, historically, partly true......)

Bread and circuses.

[jimmer]

 

I rather liked this one.

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Exactly

[yarnivek1972]

So, let me just float a far fetched, but not totally unrealistic, scenario out there.

 

Unless you have been on the moon, if you live in Minnesota you know the Super Bowl ® is scheduled to be in Minneapolis in February.

 

Let’s say the kneeling/standing issue doesn’t go away. Let’s say the owners decide to demand players stand or face fines. Let’s further say that the NFLPA declares that any such change needs to be collectively bargained. Let’s further say that neither side is prepared to give ground and the NFLPA calls for a strike. Right around say, playoff time. Could we see a scenario where the entire NFL playoffs are wiped out? IMO, it’s going to depend on how hard the owners push. If they push hard, I’d say a strike (at least by the African American players - who compose roughly half the players) is extremely likely. In the past, the players have almost always caved. But this might be different. Sure, there are a lot of blacks “in the trenches” making relatively small salaries. But nearly every receiver, DB and 2/3 of running backs are black. Those are guys who generally make good money and might be able to hold out longer.

 

There is certainly no way the NFL could play games w/o African American players. It could be interesting.

 

Likely scenario? Probably not. But, you never know. Racial tensions in this country are about as bad as they have been in my lifetime.

 

In 1947, Jackie Robinson changed baseball and started this country on the path to racial equality. There is still a loooooooong way to go, but the last 8 years proves we’ve come a long way. Despite Charles Barkley not wanting to be a role model, pro athletes have been catalysts for social change. Will this be the next example?

[Doomtints]

I would guess that the NFL will mitigate this by not broadcasting the national anthem for the time being. Fine with me, none of us at home stand and salute when the song comes on the TV.

 

Not broadcasting the anthem removes the power of the protest, so once Trump decides to shut up about it the issue will be gone for the NFL....

 

But of course the underlying issues will remain. Too bad.

[Mr. Brooks]

I would guess that the NFL will mitigate this by not broadcasting the national anthem for the time being. Fine with me, none of us at home stand and salute when the song comes on the TV.

 

Not broadcasting the anthem removes the power of the protest, so once Trump decides to shut up about it the issue will be gone for the NFL....

 

But of course the underlying issues will remain. Too bad.

The anthem is already not broadcast. Except for the SB, it never has been, regularly, I don't believe.

[Doomtints]

 

The anthem is already not broadcast. Except for the SB, it never has been, regularly, I don't believe.

 

I have always disliked sitting through it, so believe me it was broadcast regularly.

 

And had it never been broadcast, we would never have known of this "scandal."

[Mr. Brooks]

I have always disliked sitting through it, so believe me it was broadcast regularly.

 

And had it never been broadcast, we would never have known of this "scandal."

The people in the stadium wouldn't know about it, if its not broadcast? Why not?

 

Aside from playoff games I've never seen it broadcast on the regular tv broadcast.

[Doomtints]

 

The people in the stadium wouldn't know about it, if its not broadcast? Why not?

Aside from playoff games I've never seen it broadcast on the regular tv broadcast.

 

People only express an opinion on racial injustice in the US if it is televised. That's just how it is. Don't ask me why, ask the people who will only react when they see something on film.

[Mr. Brooks]

People only express an opinion on racial injustice in the US if it is televised. That's just how it is. Don't ask me why, ask the people who will only react when they see something on film.

It hasn't normally been broadcast, that's just fact, sorry.

 

"The NFL's TV partners normally do not show players before the unfurling of the American flag and singing/playing of the national anthem, except before the Super Bowl and other select games. But given viewer interest around players staging demonstrations last week, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, NFL Network and DirecTV all provided live anthem coverage during Week 3."

https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-national-anthem-players-kneeling-tv-coverage-espn-chiefs-redskins-monday/37l0tobocd8411sz4try5244r

[Doomtints]

 

It hasn't normally been broadcast, that's just fact, sorry.

"The NFL's TV partners normally do not show players before the unfurling of the American flag and singing/playing of the national anthem, except before the Super Bowl and other select games. But given viewer interest around players staging demonstrations last week, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, NFL Network and DirecTV all provided live anthem coverage during Week 3."
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nfl/news/nfl-national-anthem-players-kneeling-tv-coverage-espn-chiefs-redskins-monday/37l0tobocd8411sz4try5244r

 

I am aware of the quotes saying this, however I'm pretty certain I did not dream having to sit through the anthem every time I wanted to watch the Vikings....

[Mr. Brooks]

I am aware of the quotes saying this, however I'm pretty certain I did not dream having to sit through the anthem every time I wanted to watch the Vikings....

I can't speak for where your memories come from, but in addition to the statements online, I've watched nearly every Vikings game since 1992, and have never seen it broadcast except on special occasions like playoffs and on 9/11 remembrance.

[nicksaviking]

People only express an opinion on racial injustice in the US if it is televised. That's just how it is. Don't ask me why, ask the people who will only react when they see something on film.

.

 

Are we being televised now?

[Doomtints]

 

.

Are we being televised now?

 

You are discussing things that were televised.