# So, why have the national anthem at sporting events anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303 "2017-09-25T20:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/1 "2017-09-25T20:24:34Z")
These aren’t government sponsored or involved events. Why should the national anthem be a part of it in the first place. “Because we’ve always done it.” is not a good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/2 "2017-09-25T20:46:09Z")
There’s a good [article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/09/24/how-the-national-anthem-and-subverting-it-became-a-pregame-tradition-in-america/?utm_term=.d4b3bb9c19ad) on this topic in the Washington Post. I wish they would quit playing the anthem at ball games. It should be reserved for governmental functions. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/3 "2017-09-25T21:00:28Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > “Because we’ve always done it.” is not a good reason. As the article notes, past attempts by sports teams to _not_ play it had been met with howls of protest. Up until now, I imagine that teams and leagues felt that there was no upside, but a not-insignificant downside, to not playing it. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/4 "2017-09-25T21:01:28Z")
I would _like_ to think it is a way to remind everyone there that “we are all on the same side so let’s not turn into a bunch of tribal 'ooligan animals”. But in reality I think it just strengthens tribal 'ooliganism on a national level rather than local. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/5 "2017-09-25T22:34:53Z")
They play it so you know when its time to stop tailgating and get to your seat. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/6 "2017-09-25T22:41:57Z")
It’s a lot like being forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance before meetings, or the loyalty oath crusade in _Catch-22._ It’s part of super-patriotism that most people just go along with; some really want to; and those who don’t, are made to stand out. This provides an opportunity to say, “Look at those un-American traitors! Why don’t they go back where they came from?” This makes the majority feel smug and superior. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/7 "2017-09-25T22:45:11Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > “Because we’ve always done it.” is not a good reason. The rule of thumb is that that IS a good reason, barring some specific circumstance to the contrary. Your way is change for the sake of change, which very often ends with things really messed up. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/8 "2017-09-25T22:50:58Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > The rule of thumb is that that IS a good reason, barring some specific circumstance to the contrary. Your way is change for the sake of change, which very often ends with things really messed up. But what was the original reason? Doing just because without remembering the original reason makes it (any it) a pointless thing. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/9 "2017-09-25T22:51:14Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > There’s a good [article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/09/24/how-the-national-anthem-and-subverting-it-became-a-pregame-tradition-in-america/?utm_term=.d4b3bb9c19ad) on this topic in the Washington Post. I wish they would quit playing the anthem at ball games. It should be reserved for governmental functions. And God Bless America is not the gaddammed national anthem! You do not stand for it! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/10 "2017-09-25T22:53:39Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > “Because we’ve always done it.” is not a good reason. Because we’ve always done it AND WE ALWAYS WILL!!! Ya Commie traitor! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/11 "2017-09-25T22:59:06Z")
Sometimes at a game I forget what country I’m in. Hearing the national anthem is a good reminder. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/12 "2017-09-25T22:59:36Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > But what was the original reason? Doing just because without remembering the original reason makes it (any it) a pointless thing. That’s how you end up with the [Pot Roast Story](http://selfdefinedleadership.com/blog/?p=158) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/13 "2017-09-26T13:20:29Z")
I believe it started during WW I as a patriotic “rally-round-the-troops” gesture and then they were afraid to end it. I think it idiotic. They don’t start curling matches that way. While I cannot truly say I dislike it, what I do dislike is singers who feel they have to “style” it. It is fine as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/14 "2017-09-26T13:35:49Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > The rule of thumb is that that IS a good reason, barring some specific circumstance to the contrary. Your way is change for the sake of change, which very often ends with things really messed up. I don’t know if a good reason, but it’s often the reason for lots of things. It’s also often eventually the reason why people who start out with ‘let’s change things’ eventually cling to the new things which they make the standard in place of the old ones. The anthem protest thing is another chapter in the conflict between the ‘America bad’ and ‘America good’ factions in US society which have been battling since the '60’s. Without getting into the merits of either of those basic world views (they are each broad and diffuse enough neither could entirely lack merit nor entirely be right), the part that’s definitely bogus is the idea that the inheritors of the counter culture really demand better reasons for what they do then ‘that’s what we’ve always done’. At this point pissing on traditional sensibilities to make a point is also ‘what we’ve always done’ for several decades now. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/15 "2017-09-26T13:58:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Sometimes at a game I forget what country I’m in. Hearing the national anthem is a good reminder. OK, that was real, real good. Bravo!! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/16 "2017-09-26T14:07:02Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Sometimes at a game I forget what country I’m in. Hearing the national anthem is a good reminder. And in hockey its a nice reminder when the visiting team is one of those troublemakers from Canada. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/17 "2017-09-26T14:17:22Z")
They have the kids line up and recite the pledge of allegiance at my kid’s little league games. I just sit through it because I think that’s idiotic. I was asked by another parent if I was protesting something once and I told him I thought the pledge was a violation of the second commandment. He seemed to accept that as a good reason which is funny because I’m atheist while a lot of the parents actually are very religious. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/18 "2017-09-26T14:27:53Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > And in hockey its a nice reminder when the visiting team is one of those troublemakers from Canada. 🙂 I went to a school that was famously obsessed with hockey and whose team consisted mainly of Canadians. We of course played both anthems before home games and at road games, where we travelled well, we’d sing the Canadian anthem acapella after the US anthem was complete. I mention this because in this case the Canadian anthem was being used not for any patriotic purpose, but solely to encourage our sports playing kids and intimidate their sports playing kids. It wasn’t even as noble a purpose as Jingoism if that’s possible. Those games were also the first time I heard a fan base shouting one of the words of the anthem vigoroso that related to the school. This also obviously had nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with using the pregame ritual of the anthem as a tool to rile up the fans. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/19 "2017-09-26T14:34:52Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Sometimes at a game I forget what country I’m in. Hearing the national anthem is a good reminder. Don’t ever go to the Olympics, you’ll be confused for 2 solid weeks. I’m all for discontinuing the National Anthem prior to sporting events, it makes no sense except as a way to announce “Hey, we’re fixin’ to start over here!”. What would be a good attention getter to put in the place of the anthem? ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303/20 "2017-09-26T14:53:56Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I’m all for discontinuing the National Anthem prior to sporting events, it makes no sense except as a way to announce “Hey, we’re fixin’ to start over here!”. What would be a good attention getter to put in the place of the anthem? NHL & NBA they announce starting lineups, often with a light show, smoke, etc. MLB They announce the home team as they run onto the field to take defensive positions NFL Coin toss Soccer - Not sure. Don’t they have a little kid deliver the game ball to the referee or something? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-have-the-national-anthem-at-sporting-events-anyway/797303.md?page=2)