Growing up and to this day, I have always loved hearing the national anthem being played before sporting events I have attended. At Notre Dame there is a pageantry of the band playing the anthem followed by the Irish Guard raising the flag. Or well known singers singing it prior to a big sporting event. It's always been nice to hear.
Since several players started taking a knee or silent protesting during the anthem (which does not bother me at all), I have wondered why its played. Is it for the pageantry, tradition, or routine? We don't play it before a play in the theatre or at the cinema. We don't play it before many sporting events.
Maybe it is time to not play it, or maybe just not make a spectacle out of it. I think each sport or event should decide on its own merits. The Super Bowl, Game 7 of the World Series, are huge events. The only time I think it should always be played is if you are playing for your country. Olympics and World Cup come to mind. The song represents your flag flying on your jersey.
It is surprising since this became a news article is that Adam Silver stood firm on the league rules of enforcing the playing of the anthem. I expected the normally player friendly commissioner to disband the playing of the anthem to not upset any of the more vocal players in the NBA.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dallas-mavericks-stop-playing-national-150754782.html
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