Paul Stewart: Show Respect During the Anthem

Agree Paul, but the fans are also the violators. Can't tell you how many times I have been to an arena and the crowd feels the need to shout something in between a verse to the US national anthem. Here in Atlanta they used to yell "Knights" (for a former Atlanta minor league team) during all Thrashers game. I find it very disrespectful to all soldiers who have fought for our freedoms. Unfortunately I see it happening in other sports as well. Just pathetic!

Couldn't have said it better.

Nothing made me happier as an official when working college games with a team from one of our armed services when a player from the other team left the blue line before the anthems were finished. That player who left before the anthem was finished was usually the first to receive a very hard hit. Those teams (Army and Air Force) took it upon themselves to teach some respect...it's a shame

The shuffling of the feet doesn't bother me. Some people just don't have the ability to sit and stand still (I'm often one of them). Sometimes it's just a natural reflex. Everything else, I agree with.

I'd go the other way around ... With today's reality i think the anthem could very well be removed and i would keep them for the World Championships.

Agree Paul, but the fans are also the violators. Can't tell you how many times I have been to an arena and the crowd feels the need to shout something in between a verse to the US national anthem. Here in Atlanta they used to yell "Knights" (for a former Atlanta minor league team) during all Thrashers game. I find it very disrespectful to all soldiers who have fought for our freedoms. Unfortunately I see it happening in other sports as well. Just pathetic!
- Crushers68

Worst is the Caps fans screaming "RED!!!" at the top of their lungs.

I'd say that almost every game I go to, the players on the blue line for both teams are shuffling their skates backwards and forwards during both anthems. I don't really have any issue with that.

The shuffling of the feet doesn't bother me. Some people just don't have the ability to sit and stand still (I'm often one of them). Sometimes it's just a natural reflex. Everything else, I agree with.
- buffalofan19

Yup.

I hate the fans shouting stuff the most.

THe players should absolutely not be leaving the blueline during the anthem(s).

I think the playing of the anthem(s) before sporting events is a bit silly really, unless it's some kind of international tournament where the players are actually representing their countries. It's especially weird in the NHL since most teams are located in the US, but only a 1/4 of the players are American. It always strikes me to hear the US national anthem before a Flyers game and then look at the ice, and like three guys are American.

That said, one should still be respectful while the anthems are sung.

I think the playing of the anthem(s) before sporting events is a bit silly really, unless it's some kind of international tournament where the players are actually representing their countries. It's especially weird in the NHL since most teams are located in the US, but only a 1/4 of the players are American. It always strikes me to hear the US national anthem before a Flyers game and then look at the ice, and like three guys are American.

That said, one should still be respectful while the anthems are sung.
- josh314

The national anthem is a "battle" song. It exemplifies perseverance and winning, must like sports. It's been in American sports' history for ever pretty much, so it's a tradition, but it's also a reminder that we have the freedom to play these sports because of the hard working men and women that protect our nation and our freedoms.

I think the playing of the anthem(s) before sporting events is a bit silly really, unless it's some kind of international tournament where the players are actually representing their countries. It's especially weird in the NHL since most teams are located in the US, but only a 1/4 of the players are American. It always strikes me to hear the US national anthem before a Flyers game and then look at the ice, and like three guys are American.

That said, one should still be respectful while the anthems are sung.
- josh314

it is silly. in international events fine. but it's way past it's expiration date in North American pro sports.

what about all the lives lost during WWII in England? both civilian and military. they still don't feel the need to sing God Save the Queen before a Chelsea/Liverpool match. and it makes it that more powerful when England plays say the Netherlands in an international match.

but yeah if I'm Ovechkin and I'm all amped up for a game, damn right I'm all fidgety and restless waiting for one maybe two national anthems to get done.

Or when people leave their hat on when the anthem are being played.

The national anthem is a "battle" song. It exemplifies perseverance and winning, must like sports. It's been in American sports' history for ever pretty much, so it's a tradition, but it's also a reminder that we have the freedom to play these sports because of the hard working men and women that protect our nation and our freedoms.
- Streit2ThePoint

I've certainly heard all of that before and I remain unmoved. But hey, agree to disagree; I'm not lobbying to get rid of the anthems or anything.

The anthems are the worst part of the game. I purposely show up late so I miss them

Hi Paul,

You're correct when you say the younger players follow what their hero's do, on and off the ice. Great blog!


I watched you as a referee when I was younger and I always loved the fact you"weren't the show" although we all knew who was reffing the game!

My question to you is- did you like the instigator rule or not?

Pat

I find it interesting that North American sports leagues even have the National Anthem sung before non-international games. This is the only place in the world it happens. Because you often don't see the anthem on TV, I was unaware that this happened until I went to my first live game. I guess it's all about building patriotism? The USA is certainly more patriotic than most other countries, often blindingly so.

I find it interesting that North American sports leagues even have the National Anthem sung before non-international games. This is the only place in the world it happens. Because you often don't see the anthem on TV, I was unaware that this happened until I went to my first live game. I guess it's all about building patriotism? The USA is certainly more patriotic than most other countries, often blindingly so.
- niedermayer27

they started doing it before baseball games during WWII. to honor those fighting. it spread to other sports and stuck.

More often than not I start watching games shortly after they start so I usually miss the anthems but I have always understood the moving around/being fidgety during the anthems as the players trying to stay loose before the start of the game. If they remained motionless during the anthems their muscles might get tighter and then the chances of an injury at the beginning of the game would be greater. I never took it as being disrespectful.

Hearing the anthem a 100 times (regular season, playoffs, preseason) a year takes whatever meaning is there and throws it out the window. Kind of like my students reciting the pledge 180 times a year.