The Mexican teams (at least at World Cup soccer events) use a more rigid kind of salute, with the hand/forearm held rigidly straight like in the military salute, but horizontally across the chest.
And yes, a coach can tell his players to behave themselves with decorum. Then it’s up to them to do so or not. Sure, he has no “legal authority” to slap them in leg irons for it, but still, Have you got a ferret down your pants, Podkawzyski?!? Quiet down!!" is perfectly acceptable.
If it comes right down to it, a superstar player is more important to a team than some self-righteous orders from a coach. What are you gonna do, cut Michael Jordan if he doesn’t want to put his fucking hand over his heart for some mindless, retarded anthem? Sports is a business. The players are money. No team is going to slit its own throat to make some meaningless point about patriotism.
I realize they have to stay loose and such. It’s just he seemed to be moving around to much to me. Ah well I’m not a hockey player so I don’t know really.
That depends just how meaningless the point seems to them. The owners of a the Hobby Lobby chain forbid any of their stores to open on Sundays for obvious religious reasons… It’s reasonable to suppose that sunday could be their busiest day of the week since many people don’t have to work, and they could stand to make a lot of money if they didn’t self-impose this rule. However they apparently believe that some things are more important than money, and are willing to prove it.
A team could act in the same way. If the bad PR from their unpatriotic superstar began actually cutting into their revenue, this might also lead to a dismissal. I know there are controversial superstars out there who seem to be able to do whatever the hell they want… but if a large enough group was offended enough by his actions, I’m guessing they can do something about it.
This would be true if a player were truly doing something which was flagrantly disrespectful or distracting, but we’re just talking about a little nervous, pre-game fidgeting.
While we’re talking about anthems I’d like to vent my personal peeve- it’s the ugly Americanism that the American sports networks display during baseball’s All-Star game. It used to be that they’d show both the Canadian and American anthems on television before the game- but for the last several years they have taken the opportunity during the Canadian anthem to squeeze in more commercials. This was particularly galling during the 2002 game- our good Canadian neighbors help us in the war on terror, they get killed accidentally by our bombs, but it’s too much to ask of US television to give two minutes to the Canadian anthem.
I would agree that anthems really have no place at sporting events. It’s a sport, not a military parade. But once it’s being played, it’s polite to stand still.
This annoys me too. The one exception I have seen is when I was at a game in Casement Park in Belfast and they announced before the anthem was played that it was customary to wait for the end before cheering. There was absolute silence throughout but the guys collecting for “prisoner’s wives” (this was about 1994) might have had something to do with that;).
I’m not sure, however, if it’s necessary to play the anthem at every inter-county game. It would probably be sufficient just to play it at all-Ireland finals (and maybe provincial finals). What does drive me mad is pub bands/DJs playing the anthem at the end of the night. I know it’s just a convenient way to tell everyone to piss off home but it’s a bit inappropriate.
I was walking with my kids one afternoon when we passed a business of some sort that had a flagpole out front. Somebody walked out of the building and started taking down the American flag, and I stopped. My kids were like, “What? Why are we stopping?” and I shushed them and pointed at the flag coming down, and said that you’re supposed to stop whenever somebody does a flag ceremony, even if it’s at a gas station. They thought that was kind of weird. Tough.
damn ethil… I’d be embarassed as hell if my parents did that
It’s cool though if that’s the way you show your respect… just so long as you don’t get angry with people who choose not to (not that you do)
As someone who has been in an organisation that has been at the recieving end of countless GAA “recommendations” It is pretty much Par for the course, unless the place the game is at doesnt have facilities to perform the anthem.
the GAA see’s Gaelic Games as an integral part of Irish culture, and enshrouds pride in tradition as part of its core teachings. It tries to make every match the same as an All Ireland, and I’ve played at a fair share of county club finals where this was the feeling. Then again, wether it was us, or the Tallagh youth band, or St. Concepta’s tin whistle and clod hopper youth fellowship it didn’t make a difference. Both teams got a parade of the Teams and the fans got the treatment the all Ireland teams would get, and everyone would stand and sing the anthem. It was this pride in the tradition and occasion of the game that I loved about playing at.
I suppose national sporting events should give a reflection of the values national identity should reflect in people. Teamwork, understanding, the products of talent, or even just the products of effort.
The danger is when it becomes overblown. How much is the spectacle of the show overtaking what the show itself stands for?
One of the great things about an All Ireland day is the simplicity of it. It includes the tradition but dosen’t remove the focus from the game itself.
But then again, the Superbowl is one long spectacle. All the stops are pulled out, and it is a 4 hour long Spectacle of Grandiose. I don’t think that a Superbowl could get away with the one legged Celtic Tenor on a wooden platform singing The Boys from the County Armagh while the Boys and Girls under 12’s display matches are taking part either side of him, and Machnas are throwing giant inflatable Guinness Sponsored sliotars into the crowd as a half time show. Somehow, the GAA gets away with it every year. Perhaps because no one really minds what happens at half time, as long as they get a cup of tea. and a piss. And a programme.
Of course it’s good manners, but America is a country where personal freedom is very highly valued, so good manners are optional.
Ouch.
Why would you be embarassed as hell, Kaje?
Ditto with the standing still is good manners. As far as hands on the heart, that’s a bit opional I think. Was anyone in the super bowl picking their nose or scratching their crotch, or something?
Also, this really shocked me:
“While we’re talking about anthems I’d like to vent my personal peeve- it’s the ugly Americanism that the American sports networks display during baseball’s All-Star game. It used to be that they’d show both the Canadian and American anthems on television before the game- but for the last several years they have taken the opportunity during the Canadian anthem to squeeze in more commercials. This was particularly galling during the 2002 game- our good Canadian neighbors help us in the war on terror, they get killed accidentally by our bombs, but it’s too much to ask of US television to give two minutes to the Canadian anthem.”
Is this actually true? are the networks cutting to commercials during the Canadian national anthem? I’ll be looking for this next year… If this is true, it is truly disgusting.
Well, I know it’s a real pain for these over-paid sociopaths and the fanatics in the stands to stand still and shut up for a minute or two while some teenie bopper beats the National Anthem into submission. If you want real fun try going to a NATO parade–you can stand out in the middle of a gravel field and high ball for the German, French, British, Danish, Dutch, Spanish, Norwegian, Greek, Turkish, US and God alone knows what else national anthem, player one after another. After a while they all dissolve into one big heroic trumpet voluntary.
Starting to cheer and yell before the end of the National Anthem has long been a pet peeve of mine. Granted, I don’t know why we play the National Anthem before sporting events–buried in our cultural history somewhere–but it is played, and even for those of us that think the U.S. could choose a better song as an Anthem, it isthe National Anthem and we should show respect for our country by respecting our designated song. Not that the song is sacred or if you shift around during it or don’t know the words you’re not a patriotic citizen, but screaming prior to the ending of the song is just stupid, and disrespectful.
TwistofFate, I’m somewhat relieved to find this behavior isn’t limited to Americans–it’s so good to have companions in boorishness.
I agree with the OP. If the anthem’s playing, the anthem of ANY country, you stand still and show some respect. I like the tradition of playing our national anthem before ball games but I don’t find it necessary. But, IF it’s playing, hold still and be respectful.
A little nervous pre-game fidgeting is barely acceptable to me, but some of what they showed at the Super Bowl included jogging in place, banging fists together, talking to themselves, etc. I’m sorry, but it’s not like the moment the song is finished they’re bursting into action and need to stay loose. They have to do the whole coin toss business and all but 22 of them are going to go stand on the sidelines anyway. There is absolutely NO reason every single one of them cannot stand there either with their hand on their heart or with their hands clasped respectfully for two minutes. NO REASON.
I always think it’s funny when lliberty-loving Americans start telling other people what they should be doing during the national anthem. Surely if you believe in the personal freedom that your flag and anthem allegedly represent, you should do what you want to do during the anthem, and leave other people’s behaviour up to them?
I’ve never been a big fan of national anthems, no matter what the country. I certainly see no particular need to play them before sporting events. In Australia, where i’m from, they’re generally only played before international matches, and then the anthems of both competing countries are played.
In the US, where i now live, the Star-Spangled Banner is played before every damn game. Christ, i even live in the city where the lyrics to the song were written, and don’t think that i’ll be allowed to forget that anytime soon.
When i attend sporting events where anthems are played, whether in the US or not, i behave the same way each time. If i’m in my seat, i stay in my seat and sit quietly while the anthem is played. In this way, i can register my desire not to stand while at the same time not making any noise or commotion that disturbs those who wish to stand and listen. And i’m generally not the only person doing this. I always see others (who are not disabled) sitting during the anthem. If you have a problem with me sitting rather than standing, then fuck you with a five dollar ballpark hotdog.
Speaking of hotdogs, a good way to avoid the issue altogether is to be out the back buying food when the anthem is played, because capitalism stops for nothing and no-one. A few of the ballpark employees seem to want to stop and pay their respects, but for the most part i’ve found that orders are still taken during the anthem.
And maybe i’ll take this opportunity for a small rant of my own about the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner. It has always been my understanding that a country’s anthem was designed to bring people together, to give them a sense of a shared experience as citizens of the same nation. In other countries where i have watched sporting events live (Australia, England, and Canada) or seen sporting events on TV (various countries throughout the world) the anthem is generally sung by everyone in the stadium, and the sound of all those voices together is rousing and rather emotional, and provides a sense of doing something together.
In the United States, by contrast, the singing of the anthem seems to be little more than an opportunity for some over-rated pop star to show off his or her vocal range. The level of improvisation, with long screaming notes and much warbling, takes no account of the proper rhythm or meter of the song and shows no consideration for those in the audience who might like to join in. So much for a democratic anthem in a democratic country.
When you play in the Super Bowl, make sure you set a good example for those animals.