"I am as patriotic as the average citizen, but I have never understood the
>need to have the National Anthem played at sporting events."

Maybe to celebrate and acknowledge the fact that we are fortunate enough to
live in a country that is free and that we have the time and freedom to
devote to sporting events when a good portion of the world cannot feed
itself. Maybe to remember at a large public gathering that freedom does not
come cheap and that we celebrate America.
>