Jemele Hill: The Mavericks Were Right, the Anthem No Longer Belongs in American Sports

Breitbart ^ | February 14 2021 | WARNER TODD HUSTON

[knighthawk]

Atlantic writer Jemele Hill is sticking up for Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban for canceling the playing of the national anthem and saying that we should no longer play the song at sporting events.

The former ESPN host blasted the national anthem in her first sentence in her Feb. 14 article, entitled, The Problem With Mandatory Patriotism in Sports.

“Playing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting events has become an empty gesture of patriotism,” Hill wrote with her first few words.

[gdc61]

I’ve come to the conclusion that players, their sports nor sporting events of any kind deserve the status or position of importance that would require or justify the National Anthem.
I believe that playing the Anthem was just a ploy to draw in the more patriotic public to begin with.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Well, I agree with her on the results. These teams should not be allowed to defile the anthem by playing it or singing it.

There should be a federal law against playing the anthem at professional “sporting” events.

[Theophilus]

attention whore need a platform and nothing gets attention like sacrilege!

[hanamizu]

I never understood the fixation of sports fans on this “patriotic virtue-signaling” among sports franchises.

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I think it is/was in part because it was expected. Interestingly, it only became ‘controversial’ after that one guy decided to kneel during the anthem. (Yes I remember the black power salute at Rome, or was it Mexico City?) So, yes, let’s banish the anthem from the one place where many experience it and participate in it. The presence of the American flag will be next.

[Alberta's Child]

I think it is/was in part because it was expected.

That pretty much sums it up ... which means it wasn't terribly essential to begin with.

I don't know about you, but in my business I don't sing the national anthem at the start of every work day! :-)

[hanamizu]

I don’t know about you, but in my business I don’t sing the national anthem at the start of every work day! :-)

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Well, in my business we did recite the Pledge every day—teacher. But when you were little did the TV stations end the broadcast day with the Anthem—here in the U.S. they did. I know that in Britain movie showings ended with the playing of God Save the King/Queen. Fact is, the Anthem was much more a presence than it is now.

Overt display of patriotism is no longer fashionable and is now becoming suspect. I don’t see this as a favorable trend.

[Theophilus]

As evidenced by the empty stadiums this year, the most important source of revenue is not the average fan, but the woke corporations that pay for the advertising/psyops against the average fan.

[rlmorel]

I have to agree with that.