Here’s an item I’d like to put up for discussion. Do we really need to have the National Anthem before sporting contests? Sometimes it seems to fit, but mostly it seems like a silly tradition. Maybe I’m missing something here, but I think not. It’s not really an annoyance, but it does strike me as odd.
For instance, who decides at what point a game rates having the anthem or anthems played before it. I bring this up because they played it before the final game of the B.C. boys’ basketball championship. They also played it before one of the semi-final games I attended. Yet, it was not played before any of the consolation games I attended in the tournament or games earlier in the year. So, at the high school level it has to be a really important game before we stop for the anthem? It also gets played at Little League baseball games, but not until you’re past the regular season and into the tournament playdowns leading ultimately to the Little League World Series.
What is the purpose of this tradition?
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Jingoism? It does of course give a lot of singers extra jobs, especially Richard Looney, not that he couldn't miss a few meals? Cheers, xelA.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I think? I'd say it's an annoyance. I like the song. I like Canada. But I don't get why it needs to be played before sporting events that don't represent the country.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how peaceful you must these days. Not a single annoyance in weeks.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt. Jack won 60 bucks at poker on Friday. I'm guessing he's feeling smug as all get out.
ReplyDeleteWow, a whole 60 bucks?! You guys play penny ante? Or was it just the two of you playing?
ReplyDeleteNot quite.
ReplyDeleteThe stakes are reasonable--everyone ponies up $30, which buys you two games. Payout depends on how many people are playing. As you can see, Jack doubled his money.
I hope nobody from Canada Revenue is listening.
I think the national anthem singing before sporting events started during WWII, to remind those watching sports of what was really important.
ReplyDeleteInstead, it appears that by singing the anthem before the game, we are saying that the sporting event is what's really important.
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