General: Time to call time on the Banner

By Mike Round Sports Central Columnist

I've been in this fine country -- on and off -- for 20 years. It's the best country on earth, and it's folk befit such splendid terrain. My house proudly flies the Stars 'n Stripes. I vote diligently. I pay my taxes. I've bought into the American Dream.

However, even after all this time, I can't understand why, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays play the Detroit Tigers, in front of a smattering of pensioners at Tropicana, everyone stands up for the National Anthem, usually sung badly by a local low-rent "celebrity."

To my eye, it's disrespecting a glorious song that evokes a spectacular battle scene. The Star Spangled Banner is a song for a truly special event -- a wedding, a national celebration, a Presidential inauguration, a funeral, a memorial service for brave servicemen, or a pageant celebrating a military victory over UBL.

It's not to be wheeled out robotically when Golden State plays the Nuggets in some meaningless basement battle in the NBA, and used as a backdrop while bored players shuffle their feet or chew gum. In sporting terms, it should be the final act before the game starts on such illustrious occasions as the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, NBA Finals, and Clemson against South Carolina.

Tradition! I hear you cry. Sure, there's an argument for tradition. But not all traditions are good or pertinent to the era we're living in. There comes a time when you need to re-evaluate whether a tradition has out-lived its usefulness or purpose.

In Europe, the national anthem is used as a curtain raiser for the big events. International games of soccer, end-of-season finals, World Cup matches and such. When Inter Milan plays AC Milan in Italy, or when Real Madrid plays Barcelona in front of 100,000 rabid fans, there's no anthem as a precursor. Even those hugely significant games aren't deemed worthy.

When I attend a sports event, I stand for The Banner, though I don't sing along so as not to inflict pain on my neighbor. I mumble lustily. I'm not against the tradition on political grounds. Neither do I align myself with the anti-militarist or anti-jingoistic wing that see world domination in all things American.

Traditionally, playing The Banner at every single sporting event isn't pointless, evil or offensive to non-Americans -- it's just not good use of an evocative piece of music. Give it some respect -- use the old song wisely. Like a 15-year-old single malt, bring it out for special occasions. Then let it rest a while.

Despite the anti-social behavior of the crowd at The Palace, it would be nice to see the Detroit Pistons go a long way in this year's NBA playoffs. The Pistons won their division against the odds, after going 32-50 last year. They play blue-collar basketball in the main, with the genius that is Jerry Stackhouse providing the glitz. Rick Carlisle looks a likely Coach of the Year. Ben Wallace is already Defensive Player of the Year and Corliss Williamson Sixth Man of the Year. And boy, does this city need some sporting success.

Detroit is a sporting city, and has focused on the Wings for way too long. Sunday's game at The Palace was the team's first Game 1 home playoff game in 11 years. Even David Stern attended. Hopes are high that the Pistons, after their first divisional title in 12 years, can take some of the spring headlines away from the Wings.

Given the ineptitude of the local Lions and Tigers, two of the worst-run franchises in sports, it would be heart-warming to see the Pistons make an NBA Final. In that event, let's hope the fans do the city proud, instead of making us cringe, as we did on Sunday.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.