An almost imperceptible breeze caresses Jacques Plante and Maurice Richard, sending a shiver along the stitching of Nos. 1 and 9, respectively, hung high above center ice at the Bell Center in Montreal.
The breeze may have come from the building’s ventilation system or from the collective roar of more than 21,000 fans, celebrating in unison as Alex Kovalev buries one top shelf.
That same subtle wind also makes the stars and stripes and the red maple leaf shudder briefly, both flags sharing the same rafter space with the banners of former Canadiens greats. It is those flags, and the countries they represent, that are honored in what has become an outdated ceremony prior to every first pitch, puck drop, jump-ball and kick-off in every arena, park and stadium across the professional sporting world of North America.
Nations adopt anthems as a way to celebrate, memorialize and eulogize the shared history of its peoples. Emerging nations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries believed having an anthem was an integral part of nationhood, distinguishing the country on the world stage which, even then, was growing ever smaller.
For decades, as those countries broke bread or—more likely—did battle with each other, it was the anthem that led the charge, the patriotic cacophony that led the faithful to war or, at the very least, let everyone know where you stood.
All of that has changed. At the dawn of the 21st century, the world is even smaller. There is no need for walls; no definitive need for war. This is the global village; the world is at our fingertips. Anthems are no longer a rallying cry but solely a source of pride for the people it represents.
The sporting world, much like the rest of the world, is a much smaller place than ever before, as well. It seems a little hypocritical for the North American sports leagues to continue playing both the American and Canadian National anthems when the rosters reflect the new global reality.
Take, for example, the current roster of the Montreal Canadiens. Skating for the Habs are 13 Canadians, four Americans, two Russians and two Belorussians along with a Finn, German, Slovak, Czech, Swiss and a Kazakh. It’s a high school geography class come to life. One of the Russians, Alex Kovalev, leads the team in scoring, followed by the Czech, Tomas Plekanec. Finland's native son, Saku Koivu, comes in at number five.
The NBA has about 50 international players on current rosters, including Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets. Major League Baseball has about 25-percent foreign born players on opening day rosters and the NFL, roughly 13-percent.
The only sporting stage that should continue with the tradition of playing the national anthem is the Olympics. Athletes compete for the glory of their respective countries so it’s only fitting when the gold is won, the anthem is played.
Patriotism and pride in one’s country is commendable. One should always be proud of their country, through the good times and the bad.
12 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Tim Parent about 1 year ago
This article comes about after a night of good beer and spirited conversation in a downtown pub between a diverse group of individuals. It's a compilation of differing opinion on the subject. I offer it up to the Bleacher Creatures for debate. We had a great time debating this - hope you guys will, too.
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Miah D. about 1 year ago
"after a night of good beer" ... I have to admit, great context to raise a debate !
first, I find that the national anthem is more for the fans than for the players now.
plus it may be here a way for the players to show their belonging to the team they play for.
it is not only the jersey they were, they are into a city, a country with its culture and traditions, and they have to respect that.
some politicians even went as far as accusing Saku Koivu of not talking french - but that would be another debate
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Michael Venning about 1 year ago
If someone wants to play/sing the anthem before I brush my teeth, so be it. If the NBA wants to have the anthem before every game, so be it.
This is the great U.S. of A and the anthem should be blasted in the streets.
I don't think Steve Nash or Yao Ming are complaining about a country where they make millions of AMERICAN dollars playing an AMERICAN sport on AMERICAN soil.
Actually, I don't think anyone is complaining, Tim. It may just be your beer speaking...I don't think you really want the anthem to not be played. Because if that's the case, I hear China has a few openings in their "I hate my country" club.
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Tim Parent about 1 year ago
You're absolutely right, Michael, no one is complaining. At least, not yet. And you're right, I'm not opposed to the anthem being played. This is just a point of view being offered. I will stand when the anthem is played and I will sing along and I will applaud with vigor. I will never be disrespectful to any nation, to my country or its anthem. It's just that teams have become so diverse, is it absolutely necessary?
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Heather Parry about 1 year ago
I think this raises a great point - the singing of anthems, when you think about its origins, does seem to be a bit of a throwback to the days when foreigners were eyed with distinct distrust and definately doesn't reflect the cultural diversity of today's teams.
However, some traditions are worth keeping, and against all odds, this is one I quite enjoy. I am the biggest critic of blind patriotism (and certain things done/beliefs held in the name of this partriotism) that you're ever likely to meet, and yet I vividly remember watching the Stanley Cup finals in 2006. Both me and my dad were brought to tears watching the crowd at Rexall Place sing 'O Canada', and we're both two overly cynical Brits.
Makes me think that however outdated that tradition might be, there might be at least a little worth in it.
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The Captain -Brian Kates about 1 year ago
Interesting argument but I disagree. When the Sox opened in Japan, whose national anthem was played? It should have been Japan's and maybe the US. The reason why both Canadian & US anthems are played at hockey games is because of the original 6. A third were Canadian teams but the team that is hosting the game (ie Detroit or Toronto or any other team) gets their anthem played first.
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Tim Parent about 1 year ago
I think, perhaps, part of the problem is that, these days, it seems the national anthems are ONLY played at sporting events. I love both the Canadian and American anthems but it seems the only time I hear them is when I'm at a sporting event which is not necessarily the best venue for it. Maybe we need to play our anthems a little more often - and not just at the arenas, ballparks or stadiums.
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Michael Venning about 1 year ago
One of the best moments of the NFL season just past was the game held in London. The New York Giants played the Miami Dolphins in an incredible display of...well, who I am to kid - the game wasn't all that good, but before the television network cut away to a much more exciting game, I did get to see something quite shocking.
The American anthem was played to a 50/50 crowd of Americans and Brits. Some flags were waived and some people were singing; the players stood patriotically, and the Brits recognized and appreciated their American brothers.
Then "God Save the Queen" was sung, to which the British half of the crowd showed the world the way it is supposed to be done. Every person was singing as loud as they could; every word...yes, they knew every word. Their was passion in their voices and on their faces. Of the 81,176 people in the stands probably 40,000 of them made their point: "God Save the Queen"!!! It was so loud and passionate, and so incredible that I watched in awe at the way they sung and yelled the words.
Why do we all come across as patriotic and say the right things, but when was the last time any of us actually sung LOUDLY at a sporting event during the anthem?
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Tim Parent about 1 year ago
I gotta' agree with that. I can't tell you how many games I've been to where the crowd is only half-heartedly in to the anthem. Maybe that's why the practice seems a little outdated. If everyone sang at the top of their lungs, that would be great. Unfortunately, at one game this year, someone was telling their companion about their dog and the worm treatment is was undergoing.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Anybody who would try and do away with this tradition is talking out of the whole between their cheeks. No, not that one.
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Tim Parent about 1 year ago
Great debating, anonymous!
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Tony DeSantis about 1 year ago
Yeah, anonymous sounds like a master debater..
Tim, interesting article, well done.....certainly fodder for debate.... ever notice when the camera pans down a team's bench during the anthems.... some of the European players look totally bored but then again I've seen it from the Canuck boys as well...I think it's a personal thing as to how fans respond or don't, to the anthem ...depends on the kind of day they've had...their political views....
it's funny the times I've been at the bell centre...you can hear it being sung in 2 versions....with the bilingual fans flipping back and forth....it's an experience
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