# NBA Dallas Mavs stop playing national anthem before home games **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 10, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609 "2021-02-10T14:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/61 "2021-02-12T01:10:49Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Now the [NBA](https://pr.nba.com/nba-statement-regarding-national-anthem/) is requiring that teams play the national anthem. “With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy.” I’ll volunteer to sing it for the Mavs (if I can use my own lyrics). _Oh say have you heard What the NBA wants? Just to prove to our fans That they’re SOOOO patriotic_ _They’ve sent down this decree (With complete nonchalance) That we’ll play this here song Even if it’s robotic_ _‘Cos in Dallas one time They did not hear that rhyme And then some snowflakes Thought it was a huge crime!_ _Oh say, does the Star-Spangled Banner still sound? When symbolism’s at stake We can’t give…any…ground!_ ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/62 "2021-02-12T01:21:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _Oh say have you heard > What the NBA wants? > Just to prove to our fans > That they’re SOOOO patriotic_ > > _They’ve sent down this decree > (With complete nonchalance) > That we’ll play this here song > Even if it’s robotic_ > > _‘Cos in Dallas one time > They did not hear that rhyme > And then some snowflakes > Thought it was a huge crime!_ > > _Oh say, does the Star-Spangled Banner still sound?_ _Interrupting you with my…_ _👏👏👏👏Applause 👏 👏 👏 👏_ _> [@](#): > > When symbolism’s at stake_ _WOOOOOOOOOO_ > [@](#): > > _We can’t give…any…ground!_ ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/63 "2021-02-12T01:25:49Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > That depends. On independence day or the local equivalent? Not uncommon. On a daily basis? Yeah, pretty dang uncommon. Americans definitely go overboard with it, but when there’s a international soccer match there’s no shortage of flag waving in other countries too. One thing to keep in mind is that flying a flag at home is the OG virtue signaling. It’s a relatively new occurrence. Before the Vietnam war flying a flag at home was really pretty uncommon. After peak America following WWII it was comparatively rare. Even after Vietnam it wasn’t super common, but in the wake of the anti-war sentiment you started to see a lot more aggressive pro-military symbolism including the POW flags and tattoos. But flags were still not ubiquitous. Surprisingly, in Reagan’s Cold War America flag flying wasn’t a suburban staple the way it is now. This all started right around Desert Storm and went into overdrive once the right started to weaponize patriotism as a political party platform. Now, it’s not even patriotism anymore. It’s straight-up right-wing virtue signaling. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/64 "2021-02-12T01:57:50Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Americans definitely go overboard with it, but when there’s a international soccer match there’s no shortage of flag waving in other countries too. A competition against other countries, much like independence day, is an appropriate time to fly a flag; at home on a daily basis, not so much. Agreed with the rest of your post. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/65 "2021-02-12T14:46:15Z")
Agree w your post overall. One question on this snip: > [@Omniscient](#): > > … > One thing to keep in mind is that flying a flag at home is the OG virtue signaling. > … What is OG? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/66 "2021-02-12T14:49:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > What is OG? Original Gangster 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/67 "2021-02-12T14:49:24Z")
Own goal? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/68 "2021-02-12T14:51:43Z")
It’s right wing brainwashing: “_Liberal pansies who HATE God, HATE guns, and HATE the military are why America loses wars, and losing a war is a stain on our collective honor, you see. Therefore, if you really love America, you will blindly do what conservatives order you to do and worship the military and worship the flag. If you don’t, you can just love this country or leave it!_” ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/69 "2021-02-12T14:57:33Z")
I’d prefer Cuban _start_ with primary school kids saying the Pledge of Allegiance (we get numb to even the name of that ‘oath,’ but … wow !). > **[PolitiFact - Students still say the pledge in schools](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/sep/21/viral-image/students-still-say-pledge-schools/)** > > An image that’s being shared widely on social media reminiscences about the old days, and bemoans the political-correctn I thought it was the Libruls’ job to indoctrinate our youth – y’know: by telling them that minorities haven’t always been treated well in this country and that LGBTQ people exist. But this pledge shit ? You may as well make the school uniform a Joe Camel T-shirt (or just a tasteful brown shirt). I don’t know if this was a savvy fight for Cuban to fight but I totally applaud the rationale. “Religion and nationalism are two scourges of humanity.” --I never remember who I heard say that – Deepak Chopra ?? ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609/70 "2021-02-12T23:03:46Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Playing the national anthem of both teams (and perhaps the host country) before an international sports game, like at the World Cup, is a special event that honors both sides and gives the event additional gravitas. > > Playing the national anthem at a domestic sports game is a cheap marketing ploy meant to convince spectators that watching the game is somehow patriotic, as is giving the league their cash. It is on par with selling underpants by putting the American flag on them and quickly causes the anthem to lose its meaning. I completely agree with this. The Anthem at domestic sporting events is hollow patriotism and mostly a waste of time (like saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-dallas-mavs-stop-playing-national-anthem-before-home-games/932609.md?page=3)