It's good to see the name Lowell Cohn in writing again. I used to follow you back in the day.
As far as the national anthem before games, I think there is something worth considering. At the beginning of any event like a football game there is a lot of milling around, you are trying to find your seat, you might be trying to get food or drink, you might be talking with people, but then the announcer says, "Please rise for our national anthem." Everything stops and our attention goes to the field because the anthem is the official start of the activities. After the anthem, the team captains come out and the coin is tossed, or as in baseball the ump shouts, "Play ball." It's like that at many events.
I imagine even in the press box you might be talking to colleagues and friends, but when the anthem is played you have to pay attention as it's game on. It's a signal that the game is beginning. For a sports journalist it signals time to go to work.
I suppose we could fire a cannon, or something like that, but the playing of the anthem is the--sort of--official beginning of the game. We could do other things, but the national anthem is a tradition and it works.
Good post. From a logical standpoint, I completely agree, it’s odd we have the anthem at games and not other communal events. And I’m not a big fan of compulsory patriotism, either.
But on a gut level, I do enjoy the anthem whenever I’m at a game. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d been through it thousands of times, though, as part of my job. Cheers
It's good to see the name Lowell Cohn in writing again. I used to follow you back in the day.
As far as the national anthem before games, I think there is something worth considering. At the beginning of any event like a football game there is a lot of milling around, you are trying to find your seat, you might be trying to get food or drink, you might be talking with people, but then the announcer says, "Please rise for our national anthem." Everything stops and our attention goes to the field because the anthem is the official start of the activities. After the anthem, the team captains come out and the coin is tossed, or as in baseball the ump shouts, "Play ball." It's like that at many events.
I imagine even in the press box you might be talking to colleagues and friends, but when the anthem is played you have to pay attention as it's game on. It's a signal that the game is beginning. For a sports journalist it signals time to go to work.
I suppose we could fire a cannon, or something like that, but the playing of the anthem is the--sort of--official beginning of the game. We could do other things, but the national anthem is a tradition and it works.
Just a thought
Good post. From a logical standpoint, I completely agree, it’s odd we have the anthem at games and not other communal events. And I’m not a big fan of compulsory patriotism, either.
But on a gut level, I do enjoy the anthem whenever I’m at a game. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d been through it thousands of times, though, as part of my job. Cheers