My opinion is that these arrogant, overpaid sportsmen should be kneeling and kissing the ground they walk on for the blessing they have to be able to play a game for millions of dollars in this great country.
Instead, they come off like snot nosed little children.
The NFL should immediately add a clause to all contracts that proper respect for the national anthem is mandatory behavior at all publicly televised events.

And if anybody does not, immediate suspension is in order.

I am not saying that they cannot express their opinions off of the playing field.
That is certainly their right.

But, on the field, they should be expected to honor this country and those who have paid with their lives to make it our home.

Ding Ding!

We have another winner!

LOL:)
Saying that is almost a protest!

Thank you Jan for your reply.

The other day I was in the supermarket and my heart was broken. I saw a nice young lad attired in his soccer uniform--not a baseball uniform that I used to see. Then there were these poor women in their scarves shopping in their long dresses.

Culture changes and we Luddites like the way that things were--gentler, kinder and more hopeful for the future.

“The old order changeth yielding place to new And God fulfills himself in many ways Lest one good custom should corrupt the world."

Tennyson

Please retract.

Yes of course you are right. I redact "Communist" and since the rules were established by George Bull I replace it with "Socialist". (LOL back at you) . During the cold war the word "Communist" was a great pejorative and was applied to anything foreign and distasteful.

Don't take me too seriously; I get a kick out of decrying the popularity of Soccer in the USA.

In our local park we have 8 baseball fields and a dozen soccer fields. The baseball fields are almost always vacant except for the girl's annual high school soft ball tournament for which i used to grill hundreds of hamburgers to sell at the snack bar.

I think that the reason is that at a young age it is easier to learn the skills of kicking a larger size ball rather than hitting a smaller ball that is coming at you at almost 100 feet per second and breaking in two planes.

My opinion is that these arrogant, overpaid sportsmen should be kneeling and kissing the ground they walk on for the blessing they have to be able to play a game for millions of dollars in this great country.
Instead, they come off like snot nosed little children.
The NFL should immediately add a clause to all contracts that proper respect for the national anthem is mandatory behavior at all publicly televised events.

And if anybody does not, immediate suspension is in order.

I am not saying that they cannot express their opinions off of the playing field.
That is certainly their right.

But, on the field, they should be expected to honor this country and those who have paid with their lives to make it our home.

Which does not answer Sarge's question about why it's at sporting events in particular that the anthem is played. Why not at the start of the day in all offices? On a loop at shopping centers? At ATMs? Why should sportsmen (and women) be the bearers of a nation's gratitude for the sacrifices of those who ensured freedoms for all?

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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ...

Yes, and we could play the Horst Wessel every six hours.

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Well, IMO, the Star Spangled Banner is too staid.

You should have adopted the South's anthem as "Dixie" is much more musical :-)

Today Sweden will meet Europe (!) in the World Cup icehockey games.
As usually national anthems are sung before the game.
But now I'm confused.
Isn't Sweden part of Europe?
As a protest I will sing our national anthem when the "Europe" anthem are playing!

Well, IMO, the Star Spangled Banner is too staid.

You should have adopted the South's anthem as "Dixie" is much more musical :-)

Thought you would have said https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1W7JDWv50
;)

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when the "Europe" anthem are playing!

Ain't the European anthem same as the GERMAN one seaming they run the show ;-)

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)

Well, IMO, the Star Spangled Banner is too staid.

You should have adopted the South's anthem as "Dixie" is much more musical :-)

Thought you would have said https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1W7JDWv50
;)

In the past maybe, but in the modern America where it's shoot first, ask questions later - nothing beautiful about that.

In the past maybe, but in the modern America where it's shoot first, ask questions later - nothing beautiful about that

I know what about "Dueling banjo's" for the American national anthem ;-)

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)

In the past maybe, but in the modern America where it's shoot first, ask questions later - nothing beautiful about that

I know what about "Dueling banjo's" for the American national anthem ;-)

LOL.

However being a good ole Southern boy, thought this one would go down well, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwHvyqNDUvE] :-)

Well, IMO, the Star Spangled Banner is too staid.

You should have adopted the South's anthem as "Dixie" is much more musical :-)

Thought you would have said https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1W7JDWv50
;)

In the past maybe, but in the modern America where it's shoot first, ask questions later - nothing beautiful about that.

No, that is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0bs9ZvM8gQ

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when the "Europe" anthem are playing!

Ain't the European anthem same as the GERMAN one seaming they run the show ;-)

Surprise. No anthem was played for the European team.

btw. There is no European anthem. Only the the EU anthem.

btw. There is no European anthem. Only the the EU anthem.

You knew what i was meaning , anyho sure Mrs Merkell will change that given half a chasnce ;-)
( and i voted to remain )

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Life is what you make of it :-)

When i'm good i'm very good , but when i'm bad i'm shi#eloads better ;-) In't I " buttercups " p.m.s.l at authoritie !!;-)

btw. There is no European anthem. Only the the EU anthem.

You knew what i was meaning , anyho sure Mrs Merkell will change that given half a chasnce ;-)
( and i voted to remain )

Hehe:)
And probably a song with lyrics in German.

btw. There is no European anthem. Only the the EU anthem.

You knew what i was meaning , anyho sure Mrs Merkell will change that given half a chasnce ;-)
( and i voted to remain )

Hehe:)
And probably a song with lyrics in German.

How about this one? Forget individual anthems, let's just have one :-)

Ein zwei drei vier
Lift your stein and drink your beer
Ein zwei drei vier
Lift your stein and drink your beer

Drink, drink, drink
To eyes that are bright as stars when they're shining on me
Drink, drink, drink
To lips that are red and sweet as the fruit on the tree

Here's a hope that those bright eyes will shine
Lovingly, longingly soon into mine
May those lips that are red and sweet
Tonight with joy my own lips meet

Drink, drink, let the toast start
May young hearts never part
Drink, drink, drink
Let every true lover salute his sweetheart

Drink, drink, drink
To arms that are white and warm as a rose in the sun
Drink, drink, drink
To hearts that will love one, only when I am the one

Here's a hope that those soft arms will twine
Tenderly, trustingly soon around mine
All I ask is the right to see
Those smiling eyes beguiling me

Drink, drink, let the toast start
May young hearts never part
Drink, drink, drink
Let every true lover salute his sweetheart, let's drink

Drink, drink, drink
To eyes that are bright as stars when they're shining on me
Drink, drink, drink
To lips that are red and sweet as the fruit on the tree

Here's a hope that those soft arms will twine
Tenderly, trustingly soon around mine
All I ask is a right to see
Those smiling eyes beguiling me

Drink, drink, let the toast start
May young hearts never part
Drink, drink, drink
Let every true lover salute his sweetheart, let's drink

Is that not every Irishman's Toast?
Do the Irish not claim credit for real alcohol abuse?

How about this one? Forget individual anthems, let's just have one :-)
Ein zwei drei vier
Lift your stein and drink your beer
Ein zwei drei vier
Lift your stein and drink your beer

I could drink to that.
It's still Oktoberfest.

Naw that's Lager Louts & Yanks abroad :-)