Anthem Skipped Before Dolphins-Steelers

Fred Goodwin, CMA · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 75

Anthem Skipped Before Dolphins-Steelers

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http://tinyurl.com/2x589d

Nov 27, 3:32 PM EST
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Sports in America start with the national anthem.
The Dolphins-Steelers game was an exception.

Rushing to begin the nationally televised matchup following a 25-
minute weather delay, the NFL chose to skip the anthem Monday night
before Miami played Pittsburgh. The game started without any of the
traditional pregame ceremonies, except the coin toss, and neither team
was introduced on the public address system.

According to the Steelers, the NFL wanted the game to begin as soon as
possible following the delay. Several more minutes would have been
needed to set up a microphone and sound equipment at midfield, where
the anthem is traditionally performed at Steelers games.

There was no apparent fan reaction to the omission, which occurred as
many fans were scrambling to get back to their seats for the kickoff.
The fans were ordered to leave the lower seating bowl at Heinz Field
when lightning and a heavy rain resulted in both teams being waved off
the field during pregame warmups.

The teams warmed up for an additional nine minutes before the game
began at 8:55 p.m. EST. Pittsburgh won 3-0 on Jeff Reed's 24-yard
field goal with 17 seconds remaining.

National anthems are rarely televised during NFL games, with the Super
Bowl being an exception.

Archived from group: rec>sport>football>pro

Tarkus · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 75

I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is done simply
because it's traditional, it kind of loses its meaning. Therefore, I
have no problem whatsoever with this.

When it IS televised on whatever sport, I tend to tune it out, not
because I'm not proud to be an American, but because I know it's only
being done because they pretty much have to these days.

It's no different than shaking hands after a hockey match. Some call it
sportsmanship; I call it an unwritten rule. They do it because
tradition tells them to do it, not to display sportsmanship.

Fred Goodwin, CMA · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 75

On Nov 27, 4:48 pm, Tarkus wrote:
> I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is
> done simply because it's traditional, it kind of loses
> its meaning. Therefore, I have no problem whatsoever
> with this.

No doubt the newsworthiness of the incident is simply its rarity, not
because of any negative value judgements.

Tarkus · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 75

Fred Goodwin, CMA wrote:
> On Nov 27, 4:48 pm, Tarkus wrote:
>> I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is
>> done simply because it's traditional, it kind of loses
>> its meaning. Therefore, I have no problem whatsoever
>> with this.
>
> No doubt the newsworthiness of the incident is simply its rarity, not
> because of any negative value judgements.

Point taken. I haven't actually followed the story outside of this
thread, but that makes sense. I hope that's all it is.

lws8 · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

"Tarkus" wrote in message @corp.supernews.com...
> Fred Goodwin, CMA wrote:
>> On Nov 27, 4:48 pm, Tarkus wrote:
>>> I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is
>>> done simply because it's traditional, it kind of loses
>>> its meaning. Therefore, I have no problem whatsoever
>>> with this.
>>
>> No doubt the newsworthiness of the incident is simply its rarity, not
>> because of any negative value judgements.
>
> Point taken. I haven't actually followed the story outside of this
> thread, but that makes sense. I hope that's all it is.
It was done by the NFL, nothing to do with Pittsburgh

Bobby Galvez · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 25

James Farrar wrote:
>
> On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:48:46 -0800, Tarkus
> wrote:
>
> >I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is done simply
> >because it's traditional, it kind of loses its meaning. Therefore, I
> >have no problem whatsoever with this.
> >
> >When it IS televised on whatever sport, I tend to tune it out, not
> >because I'm not proud to be an American, but because I know it's only
> >being done because they pretty much have to these days.
>
> I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
> as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>
> You may have a point on its losing its meaning. The average American
> sports fan hears his national anthem far, far more times than the
> typical British sports fan. Hence the scene at the Wembley game, where
> the home crowd belted out a cracking rendition of God Save The Queen,
> totally drowning out the nonentity of a reality TV star with the
> microphone... Smile

That's a big part of it. The national anthem became a performance, and
an opportunity for singers to do their personal rendition of it.

It's a rare event now where people actually sing it. I enjoy Fourth of
July games at our local minor league park when there is no performer and
the crowd sings it. National anthems are meant to be sung, not listened
to.

BobbyG

James Farrar · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 15

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:48:46 -0800, Tarkus
wrote:

>I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but when something is done simply
>because it's traditional, it kind of loses its meaning. Therefore, I
>have no problem whatsoever with this.
>
>When it IS televised on whatever sport, I tend to tune it out, not
>because I'm not proud to be an American, but because I know it's only
>being done because they pretty much have to these days.

I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...

You may have a point on its losing its meaning. The average American
sports fan hears his national anthem far, far more times than the
typical British sports fan. Hence the scene at the Wembley game, where
the home crowd belted out a cracking rendition of God Save The Queen,
totally drowning out the nonentity of a reality TV star with the
microphone... Smile

BAH · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 24

On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
wrote:

>I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
>as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...

Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.

Tarkus · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 75

Bobby Galvez wrote:
> That's a big part of it. The national anthem became a performance, and
> an opportunity for singers to do their personal rendition of it.

And occasionally becoming comic fodder for years (see: Carl Lewis).

> It's a rare event now where people actually sing it. I enjoy Fourth of
> July games at our local minor league park when there is no performer and
> the crowd sings it. National anthems are meant to be sung, not listened
> to.

Interesting take. Hadn't thought of it like that before, but you may
have a point there.

Ron · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 27

On Nov 28, 10:19 am, BAH wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
>
> wrote:
> >I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
> >as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>
> Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
> played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
> it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.

Actually the "best" way is by a military band, IMO.

GraveDigger · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

"BAH" wrote in message @4ax.com...
> On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
> wrote:
>
>>I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
>>as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>
> Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
> played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
> it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.
>

Some of the worst renditions of the anthem. Hmmmmm.....

Jose Feliciano at the All-star game
Macy Gray at the HOF game

Best performance of any anthem w/wardrobe malfunction:

Lucy Lawless

Ron · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 27

On Nov 28, 10:42 pm, "GraveDigger" wrote:
> "Lloyd Heilbrunn" wrote in message
>
> @mid.individual.net...
>
>
>
> > GraveDigger wrote:
> >> "BAH" wrote in message
> >>@4ax.com...
>
> >>>On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>>>I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
> >>>>as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>
> >>>Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
> >>>played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
> >>>it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.
>
> >> Some of the worst renditions of the anthem. Hmmmmm.....
>
> >> Jose Feliciano at the All-star game
> >> Macy Gray at the HOF game
>
> >> Best performance of any anthem w/wardrobe malfunction:
>
> >> Lucy Lawless
>
> > Sorry I missed that one then....
>
> > Lloyd Heilbrunn
>
> Do a Google image search. I'm sure "it's" still out there. Wink

UUUUKKKK!

Lloyd Heilbrunn · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

GraveDigger wrote:
> "BAH" wrote in message
> @4ax.com...
>
>>On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
>>>as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>>
>>Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
>>played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
>>it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.
>>
>
>
> Some of the worst renditions of the anthem. Hmmmmm.....
>
> Jose Feliciano at the All-star game
> Macy Gray at the HOF game
>
> Best performance of any anthem w/wardrobe malfunction:
>
> Lucy Lawless
>
>

Sorry I missed that one then....

Lloyd Heilbrunn

GraveDigger · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 11

"Lloyd Heilbrunn" wrote in message @mid.individual.net...
> GraveDigger wrote:
>> "BAH" wrote in message
>> @4ax.com...
>>
>>>On Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:15:39 +0000, James Farrar
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I remain fascinated by the performances of the Star-Spangled Banner,
>>>>as the singer almost always finds some way to totally ruin it...
>>>
>>>Spot on! There is no better way for the Star Spangled Banner to be
>>>played at a sporting event than by a local high-school band. I hate
>>>it when a singer goes out there to make a concert out singing it.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Some of the worst renditions of the anthem. Hmmmmm.....
>>
>> Jose Feliciano at the All-star game
>> Macy Gray at the HOF game
>>
>> Best performance of any anthem w/wardrobe malfunction:
>>
>> Lucy Lawless
>
> Sorry I missed that one then....
>
> Lloyd Heilbrunn

Do a Google image search. I'm sure "it's" still out there. Wink