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First time was September 5, 1918, during Game 1 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs.
At that time, the Star Spangled Banner was still the unofficial national anthem. It became official in 1931 following a congressional resolution, so was already a tradition at sports events by then.
But where is it appropriate or necessary? Why a sporting event?
"Patriotism" has been used in the offensive in this country. It seems more often than not a way to judge or belittle someone as opposed to bringing the residents of the country together.
Trump's comments are case in point.
Sports cut across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines in ways that movies, plays, and more taste-and-class-specific things do not. Especially the "big" sports that draw the televised appearances.
Why WOULDN'T you do sports? It's one of the more natural places to do it.
When I was a kid, we'd go to see movies across the border in Ontario. They always played "O, Canada" before the film started, and the audience would stand, remove hats, and sing along.
Of course there were also velvet curtains that opened to reveal the screen, too, so movies were a little different in a lot of ways!
I also remember the Star Spangled Banner (or O, Canada for a Canadian station) playing at the end of the TV broadcast day (back when there was an end).
Good question, OP. I've never really thought about why we do it, other than I know the leagues receive DoD monies to promote the military which helps with recruiting.
But to specifically address why the anthem is sung before every sporting event, I'm not sure. Starting today, they could end it and never sing the anthem ever again at any sporting event in the USA. I'm sure it wouldn't cause Americans who attend sporting events to love their country any less.
I'd never thought about that before, thanks for bringing it up. It's understandable and proper to have the National Anthem before international sports events, but regular sports matches? Does anyone know when the practice first began?
In the UK the national anthem was always played at the end of a movie, as recently as the late 1960s. I can remember my father and I going to see Planet of the Apes at a cinema in Leicester Square, London, and he was the only person who stood to attention when the anthem played. Everyone else exited.
In the US, before TV networks were on 24 hours, they used to play the USA national anthem just before going off the air every night.
First time was September 5, 1918, during Game 1 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs.
I didn't know that. Major league baseball had already been around for several decades by then. MLB was founded in 1869, the Cubs in 1870, and the Red Sox in 1901.
I wonder if playing the anthem was an initiative from Woodrow Wilson or his minions. He would have been in office on that date. WWI was very unpopular, and Wilson engaged in heavy propaganda to try to bolster support.
I kind of wish that they would just stop playing the anthem at these events. But unfortunately it is now settled tradition and is probably going nowhere, any more than hotdogs and beer at ballgames. As long as we are stuck with it, I think it's best to respect the flag and the anthem. If these pro sports players don't wish to do that, they can go get jobs at fast food restaurants. I've never seen the anthem played at McDonalds.
Does anyone else remember when network television stations signed off at midnight by playing the National Anthem?
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