VOL. XV, NO. 6
JANUARY 18, 1974
Bench Beat
By BROCK AKERS
When Louis XIV ruled France from the court of Versailles, such special emphasis was put on his every action that the mere cutting of his fingernails was a ritual not to be missed by his nobles. An extreme case indeed, but our nation is likewise plagued by a ritualistic culture, a culture that extends into the sports world.
One such ritual is the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" before most every contest with a measurable audience. Every TV and radio broadcast (excepting maybe that of drag racing) is kicked off by the traditional playing of our national anthem. As the cameras and microphones scan the athletes themselves, the audience has the opportunity to see and hear the team, in unison, do nothing. If the viewer is tired of standing, putting his hand over his heart and singing the words to himself at home, he can come to any high school football or basketball game and join the crowd of enthusiastic choraliers. He can even be humorous and break everyone up by yelling "play ball" as people sit down.
Not that there is anything wrong with the Banner, but "oh say can you see" any real reason for the ritualistic musical prelude to these events? Is our national anthem imbedded so strongly in our almost nonexistent American culture that it must be sung at every public gathering?
It would seem to be a ritual which athletics could do without. Whatever purpose the singing has, it is hardly fulfilled. While waiting for the start of the biggest game of the year, humming along with Charley Pride as he struggles to remembers the words to Francis Scott Key's composition summons about as much nationalistic fervor as is derived from the celebrating of Lenin's birthday.
As long as its purpose is not served, why not strike it from the ceremonies? Maybe we could sing "My Country Tis of Thee" instead.
When Louis XIV ruled France from the court of Versailles, such special emphasis was put on his every action that the mere cutting of his fingernails was a ritual not to be missed by his nobles. An extreme case indeed, but our nation is likewise plagued by a ritualistic culture, a culture that extends into the sports world.
One such ritual is the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" before most every contest with a measurable audience. Every TV and radio broadcast (excepting maybe that of drag racing) is kicked off by the traditional playing of our national anthem. As the cameras and microphones scan the athletes themselves, the audience has the opportunity to see and hear the team, in unison, do nothing. If the viewer is tired of standing, putting his hand over his heart and singing the words to himself at home, he can come to any high school football or basketball game and join the crowd of enthusiastic choraliers. He can even be humorous and break everyone up by yelling "play ball" as people sit down.
Not that there is anything wrong with the Banner, but "oh say can you see" any real reason for the ritualistic musical prelude to these events? Is our national anthem imbedded so strongly in our almost nonexistent American culture that it must be sung at every public gathering?
It would seem to be a ritual which athletics could do without. Whatever purpose the singing has, it is hardly fulfilled. While waiting for the start of the biggest game of the year, humming along with Charley Pride as he struggles to remembers the words to Francis Scott Key's composition summons about as much nationalistic fervor as is derived from the celebrating of Lenin's birthday.
As long as its purpose is not served, why not strike it from the ceremonies? Maybe we could sing "My Country Tis of Thee" instead.