Ridding Sports of the National Anthem is Ridding Tradition and Remembrance
Column - February 17, 2021
There is something special about the rendition of the national anthem inside any ballpark, arena or stadium at a professional sporting event.
When Mark Cuban and the Mavericks discussed their plans for not playing the anthem, one of their goals was to see what the public response would be.
The controversy has created a much heated, and of course divided, debate among politicians in Texas and sports media personalities. Along with their belief of it not representing certain social groups, some proponents have called into question the significance of the anthem at sporting events in contrast to entertainment venues and tried to suggest that most Americans are already tone-deaf to the anthem at games.
Putting forth these ideas of American disengagement with the anthem, whether at a game or tuned in from their television at home, toes the line on making a bold assumption about the average American and what is meaningful to them. Nonetheless, the removal of the anthem eliminates one major instance of tradition and remembrance in American culture.