Should the Canadian and American national anthem continue to play?

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Most of us know that both anthems have been getting a loud boo. They are going to continue to play them, but do you think it should go on?

[Morgana]

I'm almost thinking they should quit playing the anthems before hockey games. The crowd is getting more rude and disrespectful, I doubt they would even notice the anthems are gone. It's sad things have devolved to the point where we even have to question whether a tradition should be continued.

[Indiana Sev]

I think they should keep playing the anthems!

I understand people pay a lot of money for tickets to sporting events and they have the right to voice their opinions of players, refs, etc. But I don't think politics has it's place in the sports arena. It's insensitive to boo the anthems like that, many people go to these sporting events to forget their problems and what's going on in the world for a few hours.

There was a big hoopla here in Montreal a couple of weeks back when the fans at the Bell Center booed the American National Anthem during the game in which the shitty Habs faced the NY Islanders. This was reported on almost every major news program in Canada and the U.S. and I think the end result was that it embarrassed our city. The result...a few games later they applauded and cheered when the American anthem played. Most fans even silenced others who began booing.

Many of the American players from the Islanders said they just used their anger from the booing and channeled it into their game(of course they pounded the Canadiens that night :) ).

We can't let some buttheads in the crowd change the way we run our sporting events. You're against the war, fine, that's why we have these marches on the streets of Montreal (and everywhere else in the world); go out and be heard there!

But understand that there are some people who paid just as much as you to be at that game and they want to enjoy it. Much like many people tuned into the Oscar telecast on Sunday past to
escape the problems of the world for a few hours...and we all know what happened there too:rolleyes:

Also, if you're against Bush's position on the war, why the hell are you booing the anthem of his country? The Americans have always been great neighbours to us and just because you're against one man's ideologies is no reason to DISRESPECT everyone else in that country who doesn't necessarily feel the same way...

I think most people realized this and that's why a few days later the crowd cheered the U.S. anthem. Good for them!

I guess what I'm saying is there's a time and place for everything and a sporting event is most definitely not the place to let your feelings be heard about politics.

Besides, there wil be plenty of time to boo during the game when the Canadiens start playing like shite!:p

Keep playing those anthems! Don't wuss out!

[horrorfreak13]

They should only play anthems during important games like The World Series, The stanley Cup, The Super Bowl etc. not game 31 of the NHL season etc.

And anyone who boos an anthem during a game should get their head kicked in it's disrepectful. Back last year when the fans of Detroit booed the Canadian national anthem when the raptors went to Detroit and later on that night the fans in the Vancouver Detroit game booed the American national anthem in the 3rd game of the playoffs which then later in the week the Islanders' fans booing the Canadian national anthem.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by horrorfreak13
They should only play anthems during important games like The World Series, The stanley Cup, The Super Bowl etc. not game 31 of the NHL season etc.


My thoughts exactly. Keep playing the anthem for events, not for every damn game.

[Moviefan1234]

The anthems are needed. I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way, but some people need to learn to respect their country and their allies.

[bob]

I dig what the National Anthems stand for, but I don't really think they're great compositions. I mean, why play them if you're not going to do something interesting with them?

At and L.A./Colorado game Zakk Wylde played the National Anthem on his guitar. He's no Hendrix, and he played it up a bit, but that was a lot more interesting than the Anthems usually are. They seem like the ultimate case of a song being overplayed: Used to be cool, but now it's just boring.

[Moviefan1234]

It's a tradition to play the national anthems before games. A tradition that should not be broken.

[Indiana Sev]

Originally posted by Moviefan1234
It's a tradition to play the national anthems before games. A tradition that should not be broken.

Agreed.

These booing jackasses should be smacked upside the head for disrespecting the anthems, if we stop playing them, these clowns win.

[jackson13]

As for the Canadien anthem, well, "their not even a real country anyways". :D ;)

The only sporting events I dont think the anthem should be played at is high school events. At my old school they played the anthem before every damn event. Basketball games, soccer games, football games, swim meets for chrissakes!! Everytime the whole crowd would stand, and about 5 people (no joke) would sing along. The student section would stand and just stare at the flag, while goofing off with each other during the song. If you ask me its pointless to play it at such small events like this. High school sports dont matter anyways.

[loner]

Originally posted by Morgana
I'm almost thinking they should quit playing the anthems before hockey games. The crowd is getting more rude and disrespectful, I doubt they would even notice the anthems are gone.

Well....I'm a season ticket holder for both the NHL and AHL teams in Philly (a place known pretty much only for it's rude and unruly sports fans); and I have never seen any rude behavior from fans during the anthems. Everyone for the most part is very respectful when they are played. And that's always been the case even before this war or even 9-11. Now.....once the game starts fan behavior becomes a different matter.

But seriously folks, how often do you hear the national anthem in it's entirety other than at a sporting event?? Almost never. I can't remember the last time I did. Discontinuing them at games is almost like saying get rid of them altogether.

[Zebra 3]

Originally posted by Indiana Sev
I think they should keep playing the anthems!...The result...a few games later they applauded and cheered when the American anthem played. Most fans even silenced others who began booing... I agree. I also like to add the Habs didn't take any chances after the infamous incident, if you do recall they played a taped video message by Jean Beliveau informing the assclowns in the audience why the both anthems are played at NHL games.

Like many Canadians I've been playing and watching hockey practically all my life, and seldom have I seen the booing of an anthem, but booing everything else should stay, afterall that's half the fun...I love it when Gary Bettman gets loud boos when introduced to present the Stanley Cup or anything else for that matter, don't you?

[Grebdron]

Originally posted by bob
I dig what the National Anthems stand for, but I don't really think they're great compositions. I mean, why play them if you're not going to do something interesting with them?

At and L.A./Colorado game Zakk Wylde played the National Anthem on his guitar. He's no Hendrix, and he played it up a bit, but that was a lot more interesting than the Anthems usually are. They seem like the ultimate case of a song being overplayed: Used to be cool, but now it's just boring.

Gotta disagree with you here, bob. I HATE when musicians try to "dress up" an antherm, or "make it their own". It's NOT their own. It is a time honored composition, and should be played straight. I fucking hate Whitney warbling her way through the National Anthem. Yes, even Jimi Hendrix.