After The Athletic reported the Dallas Mavericks ceased playing the national anthem before home games this season, it triggered a predictably spirited discussion.
Team owner Mark Cuban was met with a firestorm of outrage from people compelled to exclaim their support for the flag, while others defended the decision to respect those who don’t feel properly represented by the anthem. In the wake of the debate, the NBA quickly reinforced their blanket policy that all teams play the national anthem before games.
On Wednesday, ESPN Radio’s Alan Hahn offered an interesting perspective on the playing of the national anthem. Hahn told his co-host Bart Scott that he believes the anthem can impact the outcome of a game.
While on the Islanders beat in 2003, Hahn remembered The Star-Spangled Banner getting booed by Canadian hockey fans before a game in Montreal. The reaction came in protest of President Bush’s then recent decision to bomb Iraq. Hahn said he became angry and emotional over the booing, just as most Americans would have at the time.
But the fan reaction gave meaning to what was a meaningless regular season game. Islanders goalie Garth Snow, an American born hockey player was impassioned by the moment and led the Islanders to victory, shutting out the Canadiens.
Bart Scott makes an equally strong point at the end of the clip, wishing people would be consistent in their love and support of the flag. It took almost two months for outrage to be directed at Cuban over removing the national anthem from Mavericks games, although fans were only in attendance for the first time this week. But if not for The Athletic report, this likely doesn’t become a national story.
I’ve been to many sporting events in my life. I can recount specific plays from almost every one, I can even list the food I ate at many of them. One thing I don’t remember is who sang the national anthem. If there was a game I attended where the national anthem was skipped for any reason, my delayed outrage would be misdirected.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
