Recently, I witnessed something that it among my biggest pet peeves in how sports reflects on where we are as a society, and it happened in two different sports: players disrespecting the singing of the national anthem. One happened at a hockey game, the other in college football. Several players impatiently shuffled their feet, took a big swig-and-spit of Gatorade, etc. At the hockey game, one skated off the blueline and started to take a half-circle around the net as the anthem got to the "o'er the land of the free."
When young players do it, I want to shake some sense into their parents and coaches. When so-called "pros" do it, it makes me lose respect for them. It doesn't matter where the game is taking place: United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland or wherever. Showing a modicum of respect during the playing or live rendition of the anthem(s). Sometimes it is multiple anthems, such as when a Canada-based NHL team plays against a team based in the United States.
This is a time for honoring -- or as our Canadian friends would spell it, honouring -- the freedoms that have come at a very high cost. It's an opportunity to take a minute of perspective on what really matters before we play a game. No matter how "important" the match is, it really is only a game. There will be another one tomorrow and a new season to follow after that.
During my active career, and even off the ice, I always enjoyed signing along with the American and Canadian anthems.
Back in my school days, I was a lead tenor with Glee Club and Choir for my teacher, the late Edward B. Gammons (father of legendary baseball journalist Peter) for 5 years at Groton School: a nice Irish Catholic boy lustily belting out those Episcopalian songs. I also sang lead soprano for St. Thomas Aquinas Choir in JP as a sixth-, seventh- and eighth grader.
Ah, many hats, many passions. I may not have been much of a hockey player or referee, at least according to my critics. So I may have missed my true calling in life: following the tradition of the great Irish tenors to fame and fortune in a realm where strained vocal chords and not knocked-out teeth are a common job hazard.
At any rate, in all seriousness, it bothers me when I see players or officials act like restless five-year-olds when the anthems play. There is also a filter-down effect from the pro level to the junior and minor hockey levels. Kids emulate what they see the pros do. When the pros act bored or disrespectful during the anthem, the players at lower levels copy that behavior. When the pros act courteously and, well, professionally, that is what gets emulated.
Again, this simple gesture of respect does not just apply to games in North America. I feel the same about the anthem in whatever country the game takes place.
Last year, as part of a plan for the next season that I spelled out to my former KHL bosses in Russia, I included an expectation for proper professionalism and respect shown during pre-game anthem time in the KHL and MHL. The same expectation could also be applied in Sweden's SHL, Finland's SM-liiga, Switzerland's National League, the Czech or Slovakian Extraliga or wherever.
To me, this should just be common sense. Whether you agree or disagree with a nation's politics or political leaders and no matter how anxious you may be to get a game underway, be respectful when the sport you love brings you to that country. It's not that hard to do.
Whenever I've traveled the globe and I see a flag upon my arrival, I do not associate it with their related governments. You know what I think about? I think about the people I've gotten to know in those countries and the times I've had there. Being a history buff, I also think of the place's history and those who've shaped it. Politicians come and go and the times change for the better and for the worse. I believe that we all should study history and learn from both the good and bad. That's the only way we can avoid being doomed to repeat the bad aspects of history.
Ultimately, what I've learned from traveling all over the world is that cultures and customs may be different but, fundamentally, people are people and hockey is hockey. By honoring our own countries and showing appropriate respect when we are guests in other countries, we bring honor on ourselves.
Respecting the national anthem is both a simple gestures and a reasonable expectation. That's equally true whether you are in your home country or a guest in a foreign country.
Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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