They haven't played the anthem pregame all season. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shlomo...-anthem-at-home-games-report/?sh=3367dc8642dc
good, needs to spread to the rest of the league. have no idea why we go through this charade of pseudo patriotism.
I want an owner to take the next step and have everyone stand at attention as "Yakkety Sax" is played before the game.
I can't say I watch a whole lot of foreign sports - but the anthems play before every FIFA soccer match.
There was never any reason to link sporting events and nationalism. We don't play a national anthem before every concert. Or before every movie. That would be ridiculous--the only reason most people don't currently see an anthem before every game to be ridiculous is because they're used to it. Sports are entertainment. They are not intrinsically "salutes to our troops" (as it's often turned into, with excessive gestures like fighter jet or stealth bomber flyovers). If we want to appreciate our troops, we should treat them better in terms of the social services we offer them when they complete their service. Not ultimately meaningless shows of jingoism at sporting events.
I like the Maori War Chant they do in Rugby before an All Blacks match...I think more teams should have that sort of war chant and rattle sabres before the game.