r/wnba • u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs • 4h ago
QUESTION Dumb Question Maybe: But why does the W continue to play the national anthem before games?
Genuinely asking but is there a law or rule they have to abide by? In the W most teams just go back to the locker room these days, the only thing it seems to be good for is starting fake outrage , and I doubt most fans care if its played or not...so who is it for and why do they still do it?
I personally don't care one way or the other (though personally i find it wholly tedious in person at games) but it seems silly at this point and wholly unnecessary topic that just draws the ire of bad actors when they have no other entities to project their hatred upon.
Why doesn't the W just... get rid of the national anthem?
•
u/darnius_terix 1h ago
One major reason is because of revenue! The US military pays sports leagues hundreds of millions of dollars in ads and marketing justified as recruiting. That's why at every sporting event it is played. If the W got rid of it they would have to replace millions including other companies close to the military industrial complex that also advertise in the W. It can be done but I don't think this commissioner is built for it.
•
u/ahhnnna Sky (supporting AR5’s Dream) 33m ago
I googled it out of curiosity and it turns out not anymore:
The U.S. military does not pay the WNBA (or individual singers) to sing the national anthem. Under current regulations, the Department of Defense is strictly prohibited from paying professional sports leagues for "paid patriotism" displays
The Ban: Following the backlash, the Pentagon banned the practice of paying for on-field tributes, troop recognitions, or anthem performances. While the military still buys standard advertising space (such as TV commercials or stadium signs) to boost recruitment, teams are no longer compensated for patriotic ceremonies.
(According to Google)
•
u/ScissorFight42069 2h ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93entertainment_complex
This is the actual, factual answer, OP, minus the feelings everyone else is interjecting into their answers. Or the "that's just how it is" brain dead non-statements.
It's an official, coordinated campaign of propaganda funded by the US Department of Defence and multiple entertainment corps and orgs, including most major pro sports leagues in the US.
"The U.S. military has provided $53 million in funding to professional sports organizations in exchange for pro-military messaging, such as a "salute" to active duty soldiers and war veterans."
After every claim,.you can click the source and read the source of the info, which is why I like Wikipedia.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 2h ago
oh whoa i didn't realize this! thank you for sharing.
This is actually quite alarming. Indoctrinated propaganda that people don't even realize is being paid for by our government, presumably with our ta dollars.
That could be going to literally anything else this country need. Horrifying.
•
u/ScissorFight42069 1h ago
It's nuts. Most people don't believe it's true when you tell them, even though it's out in the open since the 90's.
•
u/Asleep_Commission_46 Fever 3h ago
My husband is a band director so I also see the national anthem being played as giving musicians (instruments and vocalists) an opportunity to perform.
•
u/frogbodbabe Valkyries 3h ago
damn a lotta bootlickers in this sub… proud of my team for leaving the floor every time
•
•
u/NYCScribbler all your Rebecc(k)a(h) are belong to us 4h ago
Because it would cause too much blowback.
Honestly, I too think the Star-Spangled Banner is a tedious display of jingoism at games, and I can only imagine how non-American players feel about it. (My solution is that we should play the anthem of every participant in the event before the game; to use the Liberty as an example, you'd get the anthems of the US, France, Spain, Germany, China, and Australia, and then other countries as appropriate depending on opposing rosters. Either the sheer weight of anthems drives people to beg for an end to it, or we all get to learn a bunch of national anthems we've never heard before.)
•
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
Because it would cause too much blowback.
There is already so much blowback to how players behave during the national anthem as is. Might be better to deal with the initial blow back and have everyone move on .NA dsimply not announce it either, i would wage it would take people a while to notice.
I agree the reality is the blowback wouldn't be worth it but imo thats not a good reason to keep dong something.
•
u/Lou_Lou_8082 Mystics 4h ago
Here’s a fact to consider. Prior to 9-11 NFL players were not on the field during the national anthem. In the immediate weeks after 9-11, the US Government asked the NFL to have players on the field during the national anthem. That’s a fact. IMO that shift changed the whole dynamic around the national anthem and professional sports in the US.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
9/11 really destroyed this country in so many ways is so sad to see.
•
u/Kennisgoodman Lynx 4h ago
They should play the song 24 by Kanye West instead of the National Anthem
•
u/blkschizo Biberty StewNited States 4h ago
This is not specific to the WNBA. It's all American sports. As a retired vet I don't care one way or another if it's sang/played or not. Tbh I rather it not be forced the way it is but thats an entirely different conversation
•
u/Cute_Repeat3879 Dream 4h ago
The fake outrage would be worse if they stopped
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
for how long? attention spans are short and this isn't something anyone actually cares about imo.
•
u/Cute_Repeat3879 Dream 4h ago
They would bring it back up any time they needed a distraction.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
fair, fair.
Outside of that though, is there really a good reason.
•
u/ddottay Rockers 4h ago
Some things just aren’t our battle to fight. This is one of those things. They do it at every other sporting event.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
i am not really advocating for fighting it though, I am just asking why. In general the response seems to be to not upset people who don't even watch or carea bout the W to begin with.
Doesn't seem like anyone things anyone actually involved or part of the W would care one way or the other.
•
u/Oaklandforever51 4h ago
Agree to disagree. I'm a veteran. While the anthem may be tedious to some, it means a lot to me. And really, if you're not at a sporting event, when would you hear it?
•
u/couchtomato62 Valkyries 35m ago
I hate that song and like only 2 versions...Whitney and Marvin. I'm usually getting food.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
I mean if it offends over half the players and half the fans in the stands, why should they be forced to listen to it. Nothing stopping people from streaming it on spotify.
•
•
•
•
u/the_mad_sailor_ Monarchs 4h ago
I respect your stance shipmate but, as a fellow veteran, I am also in favor of doing away with playing the anthem. Like, it just about barely makes sense in international competitions, if you squint hard enough. In league play, against two club teams, I'm against it. And not just the W, I'd like to see all the US sports leagues stop doing it.
•
u/SoloBurger13 Betnijah's defense attorney 4h ago
Every US owned sporting league is going to do the anthem until the end of time
•
•
u/ler7421 4h ago
Why don’t we just…focus on the good part of the league. If you personally don’t care one way or the other then why even make a post about this🧐 None of this seems very genuine.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
because there is quite a bit of conversation about players going into the lockeroom during the anthem that seems easily avoidable by not playing it.
•
u/coachd50 WNBA 4h ago
Oh the conversation would be MUCH MUCH worse.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
so basically we all just think we are being held hostage by fake outrage lunatics that don't care about the W or women in general anyways? that is really the answer?
•
u/Popular-One-7051 Valkyries Nous parlons français! 1h ago
No but im just since of he noise. There's way too much crap going on in the country to stress about this stupidity. I just get food or whatever while its on.
I don't like the anthem because so often its just an excuse for vocal pyrotechnics.
•
u/notaquarterback Fire 4h ago edited 4h ago
This is an American thing. Didn't happen when I watch games in Europe cross the continent, obviously they exceptions I know like international sports they do it for domestic sports not a thing but in the US totally a thing.
•
u/Mike_Hawk_Burns KT5 Chelsea Gray AR5/Allisha/Rhyne 4h ago
Every sport still does it because about a decade ago or so, some of the more prominent leagues tried to stop doing it out of a compromise for some the athletes that were protesting but they also started losing money because conservatives watch sports too and would get upset and not watch without the anthem being played. So the compromise is that the anthem still plays but isn’t always televised so that both the left and right are happy-ish and they retain both voter bases and keep more money. The same mostly holds true for the W
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
conservatives watch sports too and would get upset and not watch without the anthem being played.
ah yes, the national anthem that isn't even on tv most of the time is integral to fandom. I do think its time to try to kick it tot he curb again, a lot has changed in 10 years.
•
u/Mike_Hawk_Burns KT5 Chelsea Gray AR5/Allisha/Rhyne 4h ago
Some of the times have changed but not a lot for leagues to really justify doing that. The leagues all learned a lesson from the nfl trying to get rid of it and decided that if the nfl is gonna suffer from it then they have no chance of surviving either. This tradition of the anthem is tied into their monetary success and nobody really cares enough to decouple from it right now
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
The leagues all learned a lesson from the nfl trying to get rid of it and decided that if the nfl is gonna suffer from it then they have no chance of surviving either.
Except this was during a time when brands caved to public outrage and didn't wait out bad PR for a few months like they do now. That is what as changed imo.
his tradition of the anthem is tied into their monetary success and nobody really cares enough to decouple from it right now
I really don't believe there is even one iota of truth in that comment. However, even taking at its face, that is the NFL which actualy doesn't have the same fan base as the W. I don't think W fans would have the same reaction to getting rid of the anthem as the typical NFL demographic.
•
u/Mike_Hawk_Burns KT5 Chelsea Gray AR5/Allisha/Rhyne 4h ago
I want to state to you that I’m not arguing with you. I’m only answering your question of your post and trying to provide additional context to better answer your question.
This has been happening well past the 2010s as well. NASCAR also tried shifting more in line with left wing politics in the early 2020s and was also getting backlash from conservatives and abandoned some of their alignment due to that. The MLB also had issues trying to shift a bit away from national anthems in the early 2020s and had backlash from some managers, talking heads and fans so they’ve also stopped their shifts. The NBA also had issues and fought a bit harder than other leagues in the early 2020s before stopping and shifting to a “vote in November” initiative. It very much has to do with financial standing due to fans, outside pressure from talking heads and politicians.
If the NFL couldn’t get away with it from outside pressure, then other leagues couldn’t either. And a few have tried. We also see that finances is a very real reason for the W specifically. Ask yourself how many times Cathy has had the chance to be progressive in her public statements regarding public controversies and how many times she’s walked the center of the line. It’s because the league wants money from people all is he the political spectrum which also means not upsetting conservatives. It all comes back to money.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
I am not arguing with you either i just think you are missing my point.
What the NFL did 10 years ago was during a different period of brand/company reactions to social media. They didn't do anything because they lost money they did it because they thought they might lose money. Now, in the year 2026, brand are much more willing to ride out bad press and outrage.
If the NFL was so compelled in the future, I don't think they'd cave to conservative outrage. Now political interference from our government is another thing they'd have to worry about but in a few years who knows where we will be.
•
u/Mike_Hawk_Burns KT5 Chelsea Gray AR5/Allisha/Rhyne 4h ago
I don’t think I’m missing your point. I’m just answering why they’re not shifting away. Like I said, this has happened well into the 2020s as well and gave different examples of different leagues outside of the NFL and the bottom line is money.
If we want to point to fanbases, let’s take a look at the newer leagues as well. The AUSL and WPBL are baby leagues in comparison and they also do the national anthem for every game even when their fanbase and athletes are very different from the men’s leagues. Because the leagues are still trying to maximize profit. And as stupid as it looks, something this small has a lot of impact on the league’s revenue. So they protect their bottom lines. The W is no different.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
i meant he national anthem isn't leading to any profit though. THere is just a fear not doing it might take away profit but because ther is no examples of someone stopping doing it, there is no concret evidence that this is even true.
•
u/Mike_Hawk_Burns KT5 Chelsea Gray AR5/Allisha/Rhyne 3h ago
It’s leading to profit simply by retaining people watching the league(s) through viewership numbers for better tv deals and then trickles down a bit further through merch sales since people aren’t boycotting the merch. That’s why I pointed to the NBA, NFL and MLB as examples because they lost money through ailing viewership when they tried to shift away. But when they put it back, even though the compromise was to not broadcast it, their viewership numbers went back up which positioned them for better tv deals.
So the long and the short is the money concerns come through viewership drops are what lose them the most money. And the leagues’ fears that you just mentioned are why the W won’t part with it. Cathy has shown that she and the owners want as much money as possible. Which means retaining viewership by keeping this tradition going which largely affects conservative money if they choose to stop watching. The left voters are gonna watch regardless because left wing sports fans generally like the sports for the sports so their bottom line isn’t hurt by keeping it in their. But the money does drop if the right stops watching and they don’t like the feel in their wallets.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
It’s leading to profit simply by retaining people watching the league(s) through viewership numbers for better tv deals and then trickles down a bit further through merch sales since people aren’t boycotting the merch.
This is an assumption not based in fact though in my point. Tere is no data to support viewership would go down if they got rid of ht enational anthem.
→ More replies (0)•
u/fshippos Fever 4h ago
"I personally don't care one way or the other"
I'm gonna guess this isn't actually true cause it seems like you definitely want it gone lol
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
i do want it gone because it creates controversy. I don't feel one way or the other when its played however. I am indifferent to the experience of it.
•
u/fshippos Fever 3h ago
You are creating the controversy though. It's like yelling at someone that you don't want to fight. Right now it's a non issue
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
I'm creating controversy? Where? How? All the replies here are very relaxed and conversational. Conversation, yes. Controversy? No.
there are plenty of articles and conversations in other places about this today that is controvery that has nothing to do with me.
•
•
u/Swimming-Produce2474 Monarchs 4h ago
The bigger question is whether the league believes the tradition's value to its audience outweighs the controversy surrounding it in this small sphere. There isn't enough reliable evidence to conclude that most WNBA fans either support or oppose its removal.
I personally am pretty patriotic and like the tradition. But I won’t get bent out of shape on teams that want to go back to their locker room, that’s their right to freedom of speech.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
what is the traditions value to the WNBA audience? Is there any value? Based on the comments in this sub its to keep people who aren't fans of the W away from harrassing the w. doesn't seem like its particularly important to actual W fans.
•
u/DResq 4h ago
Wait..what is the controversy with the anthem? I'm confused. I always hear the anthem at games and have never thought of it as political.
•
u/couchtomato62 Valkyries 29m ago
The govt is actually paying for it to be played as recruitment tool in most sports. It is political.
•
u/Swimming-Produce2474 Monarchs 4h ago
A pretty small group of people in the grand scheme of things didn’t feel the anthem represents them iirc.
•
u/Even_Budget2078 Fever 4h ago
It's not a small group of people. The Dream put out a statement specifically about the Anthem not representing everyone or their values in 2020. This is what protest is. And as far as I'm concerned, it's perfectly fine and laudable. I am not a fan of people protesting, however, and then their "fans" (not directed at you but many in this sub) trying to undermine the actual protest by pretending it's not real or "fake". Protest is meant to upset, it is meant to challenge. The idea that WNBA players protest the National Anthem, which allows them to express a view that extends beyond just the game at issue, should be met by erasing the object of their protest, thus *silencing* the message they are trying to communicate, is dumb.
•
u/liberderci Fever Tempo 4h ago
they would be the first major sports league to get rid of playing the national anthem and I don’t think that would go down well. It really picked up prominence during World War I and never stopped.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
It really picked up prominence during World War I and never stopped.
women didn't even have the right to vote during world war I. i think we can move on from things that made sense back then but maybe not anymore.
•
u/liberderci Fever Tempo 4h ago
I don’t have a horse in this race as this is part of a larger conversation about the United States and sports and propaganda. like why do you guys have military planes doing a fly past before the Super Bowl
I also don’t really know who removing the anthem would be for? Most players probably don’t care. People at sporting events are already used to the anthem being played all the time. The broadcasters will just fill the space with more commercials.. like what’s the point
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
I also don’t really know who removing the anthem would be for?
For the people it offends. For the people who don't care that don't have to waste the time standing and dealing with it. For everyone who gets second had embarrassment for everyone that tries to sing it. For everyone who has to deal with the think pieces of people upset by players not standing/staying out for it. ETc etc.. basically everyone.
Better question but who are we playing the anthem for? Most players probably don't care. People at the event don't care. The broadcasters don't even broadcast it for the W because the players are usually in the locker room... like whats the point?
•
u/New_Function_6407 4h ago
Because ending the practice puts a magat sized target on a women's sports league that is already dealing with enough bs.
•
•
•
•
u/J-Crow11 4h ago
I mean, if you want to make the talking around the W even less about the basketball, then yeah that can happen. Though I guess you brought up the topic, so I assume that's the direction you want to go.
It's a basic ritual for every sport to play the national anthem. I'm pretty sure they do it overseas as well for non-national based competitions. For Canadian teams, the Canadian anthem is played as an example.
It's not just a US thing, it's just a sports tradition thing.
•
u/yesbutwrong Sparks 4h ago edited 4h ago
Most places overseas do not play the Anthem. It is an American thing that was started during the world War(s) era.
Generally other nations only play their anthem when the teams come from different countries.
(This is based off of watching European, African, Asian, and Latin American sports teams. I do not watch any Canadian sports so I cannot speak on what they do)
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
other countries do not play the national anthem in every domestic league game like we do in the US. Canada does for hockey but thats in.
•
u/J-Crow11 4h ago
I mean cool, but it's tradition in the US, and as you mentioned Canada.
And given the current state of politics, and how it takes every little minute, potentially conceived slight as a full-on, year-long discussion on how this thing is "destroying america", the absolute bombshell that this would cause is not worth anything that the W could ever benefit from.
It's an edgy topic that's getting a lot of comments for you, congratulations for that I guess. But bringing this up tells me more that you don't care about the W or the sport of women's basketball and seem to care more about the platform that it's gained and how to use it to your benefit.
That may not be the case, but that's what bringing this up as an idea tells me about you as a person on the internet.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
ah yes, because i benefit from reddit comments so much, i am definitely here because i don't care about the sport or the W, just biding my time for some national anthem engagement.
and just because its a tradition in the US doesn't mean it should continue:
-Gender-segregated newspaper job listings
-Columbus Day school pageants
-Child marriage
- Corporal Punishment
All traditions in the US until we decided they were probably not the best idea
•
u/J-Crow11 4h ago
Cool, but why does it have to be the W?
Like they are just getting their foot in the ground in terms of national attention. More and more people care about the W than ever, and not just because of Caitlin Clark, which is what many of its detractors will say is the only reason people care. Doing this would absolutely tank that entirely, and for what? A political statement that the players are kinda already making by not being out of the locker room during the anthem?
Bringing this up, to me is no different than the right wing grifters that use the W to push their agenda. Because that's what you're doing right now.
At the end of the day, you're pushing a political agenda on a sports platform that has nothing to do with the actual sport but has a slight relevance to it. I wouldn't imagine you would do this on NFL platform or a MLB platform.
Yes, it's more a political stance that I might agree with more, but at the end of the day you're just using the W as an excuse to talk about your other political beliefs.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
Cool, but why does it have to be the W?
It doesn't but this is a W sub and there is current outrage about players in the W going to the locker room during the anthem. Doesn't make much sense to ask a W sub if the MLB has to play the nation anthem.
Like they are just getting their foot in the ground in terms of national attention. More and more people care about the W than ever, and not just because of Caitlin Clark, which is what many of its detractors will say is the only reason people care. Doing this would absolutely tank that entirely, and for what? A political statement that the players are kinda already making by not being out of the locker room during the anthem?
This is quite literally a post asking a question, not demanding action. Its just a though experiment bud, please chill. No one is being shamed either way but given the constant controversy around it, it seems reasonable to get rid of it all together.
Bringing this up, to me is no different than the right wing grifters that use the W to push their agenda. Because that's what you're doing right now.
Questioning why we still do the national anthem before W games when the players head to the lockeroom and its not on tv is akin to transphobia, racism and sexism being directed at players and children to you? Interesting!
At the end of the day, you're pushing a political agenda on a sports platform that has nothing to do with the actual sport but has a slight relevance to it. I wouldn't imagine you would do this on NFL platform or a MLB platform.
Well i don't follow those sports so no!
Yes, it's more a political stance that I might agree with more, but at the end of the day you're just using the W as an excuse to talk about your other political beliefs.
I am just reacting to relevant current events happening in the W bud in a way that isn't hateful. If you have an issue with it, thats a you problem.
•
u/J-Crow11 3h ago
Thanks for confirming that this has nothing to do with W and just about spouting your political opinions.
I wish you did it elsewhere, but you decided to do it here, so good for you I guess. Just as a reminder, there are subreddits to actually have these conversations and you don't have to try and force them in more popular ones just to get a bigger reaction.
It's annoying that this keeps happening to the W, but that's I guess what happens in today's modern world to anything that starts to get any sort of traction or notice by the general public.
•
u/couchtomato62 Valkyries 22m ago
Sports has always been inherently political. Idgaf about the anthem especially in 2026.
•
u/Even_Budget2078 Fever 4h ago
Um, pretty sure they play "O, Canada" before Tempo games.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
the WNBA is an american league based in america.
•
u/Even_Budget2078 Fever 4h ago
Wow. You are embarrassing yourself so much.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
i'm really not, WNBA isn't a canadian domestic league.
•
u/J-Crow11 4h ago
They're not, they threw a bomb in a subreddit in order to get a lot of reaction and to see people get upset about it.
I can very much guarantee that this person does not give a crap about the W or anything related to women's sports.
At least that's how they've presented themselves thus far
•
u/hx2x 4h ago
Doing this would just create even more fake outrage.
•
u/No_Function3932 4h ago
i think this is the answer. the worst people would turn it into a culture war. do W games need to start with the anthem? of course not. would it draw more of the worst eyes to the league if they cut it? yeah, we have seen a lot the last few seasons just how trigger happy people are to chastise the league over perceived slights.
notably, they do play the canadian anthem in addition to the star spangled banner before toronto games when they're on the road. i do think that national pride is pretty tied to sports.
and, like, idk. there is a part of me that does think it's sad that all forms of patriotism have been co-opted by the right. of course it's hard to be proud to be an american these days, but i live here and have a life here and it is my country, too - whether i like it or not. i go back and forth about it, i don't stand for the anthem but i'll clap for the performer(s), etc.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 3h ago
i personally don't think the national anthem backlash has much to do with right vs left, I think its a general fatigue with both sides of America. colin kaepernick first sat during the anthem when Obama was in office. Whether you are black white left right I think its hard to be proud to be an american these days and its a result of both political parties.
i think this is the answer. the worst people would turn it into a culture war. do W games need to start with the anthem? of course not. would it draw more of the worst eyes to the league if they cut it? yeah, we have seen a lot the last few seasons just how trigger happy people are to chastise the league over perceived slights.
And really how long do we have to be held hostage by people that don't even care about whatever their performative fake outrage is about?? Like thats the worst part, most of these things are even actual passion points for people, they are essentially opportunities to perform to people who also don't actually care one way or the other. Its a terrible reason to do anything or not do anything, to avoid the backlash from lunatic.
•
•
u/CallMeMailEscort WNBA 4h ago
It doesn’t affect me one way or the other. I’m indifferent to it and I assumed everyone else was the same. Maybe that’s a sign that they should get rid of it.
•
u/Even_Budget2078 Fever 4h ago
Why on earth would anyone think this is a good idea?
•
u/brooklynsantiago Liberty 4h ago
The song was written by a slave owning anti-abolitionist and celebrates the deaths of slaves in one of the verses that doesn’t get sung in the shortened version
“No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”•
u/No_Function3932 4h ago
you don't need a team flair, people can guess
•
u/Barrioto Fever 4h ago
I know, right? Wanting to keep the focus on the actual game was a dead giveaway
•
u/No_Function3932 4h ago
that's not what their (or your, for that matter) comment is doing at all, sweetheart
•
u/Barrioto Fever 4h ago
What do you think you did immediately with your comment sweetheart?
I get it. The W isn’t about basketball. How silly of me.
•
u/fatiguedpickle 4h ago
Frankly, a lot of people don’t care. Even the ones that pretend to. Have you ever worn an American flag piece of clothing? You’ve disrespected the flag and everything it stands for. You vote for current goings on, you’ve also violated everything it stands for. You criticize people like Kap, you violate everything it stands for.
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
playing the national anthem before basketball games?? i agree!
•
u/Imaginary-Party-3244 4h ago
100% Agree. Can we stop saluting the military at every sporting event? Get rid of the pledge of allegiance in schools too. Weird.
•
u/the_mad_sailor_ Monarchs 4h ago
Get rid of the pledge of allegiance in schools too.
They still do that?
•
u/Imaginary-Party-3244 3h ago
I’m pretty sure it is mandated by state law in the state that I live in. (Historically a blue state)
•
u/CallMeMailEscort WNBA 4h ago
Yeah I kinda agree. It’s feels very… North Korea.
•
u/fshippos Fever 4h ago
I mean, it's very North Korea in the same way that a potato chip is a vegetable
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 1h ago
government paying leagues to force their teams to play national anthem before sporting events is very north korea
•
u/coachd50 WNBA 4h ago
What is fairly unknown is that all of those "Military Appreciation" NFL games are advertisements PAID FOR BY THE MILITARY.
•
u/bluediamondsm “These are my Wings ” 4h ago
All the sports leagues here do it I’m assuming it’s retired and in the NBA the Mavs even got in trouble for not playing it
But I agree it’s not necessary for every single event it’s a bit tiring
•
u/basketball45231 Storm 4h ago
Every single sport in America does it. Would be a huge deal to not play it. Not even worth considering
•
u/goofygal1566 We Suck, but ily champs 4h ago
Every single sport in America does it.
This also seems silly/stupid, especially given the friction it causes
Would be a huge deal to not play it. Not even worth considering
I don't think most people would notice or care and after the fake outrage cycle moved on no one would care about it.
"Everyone else does it" imo is not a reason to continue an outdated tradition that creates more divisiveness than it does unity.
•
u/blue-anon 4h ago
This does make me want to go look into when this started and why. It's kind of odd when you step back and think of it.
•
•
u/Zonr_0 Fire 49m ago
I’ve sung the national anthem a few times at MMBA games with a few groups I’ve been a part of and I have very strong opinions on how it should be sung inherited from one of my directors. To quote him: “people are here to see the game, not see us sing.” We generally kept it to around 30-40 seconds long and I judge other performers by that standard now lol