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This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Our neighbors to the north celebrated Canada Day on Sunday and today, of course, is Independence Day here in the United States. As I often do this time of year, I think it's a good time to pass along something I learned from my parents and grandparents: No matter what your personal politics, it is important to show respect both to your own nation and to others.
Say thank you to those who serve the country and the community. Respect the flag and the anthem, and those of other countries. Within team sports, keep politics out of the locker room and focus only on being a team.
This week 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. I still do it at games, 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. 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. Don't stand there cracking gum. Don't shuffle your feet. Don't start skating away before it's over. Show respect.
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, those at lower levels copy that behavior. When the pros act courteously and, well, professionally, that is what gets emulated.
This does not just apply to games in North America. I feel the same about the anthem in whatever country the game takes place.
When I worked for the KHL in Russia, I expected the officials to show respect and professionalism during anthem time in the KHL and MHL. The same expectation could also be applied in Sweden's SHL, Finland's Liiga, Switzerland's National League, the Czech or Slovakian Extraliga or wherever the game may be played.
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.
When I see a flag, I think of the people I've gotten to know and the times I've had in those places. I think of the history and those who've shaped it. The 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 it.
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.
Happy Independence Day!
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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. Today, Stewart is the director of officiating for the ECAC.