Wasn't this a presidential decree back during the world war II? it then
became a tradition and carried over to all sports..

but to me there is a big difference playing the anthem at a college event
and a professional event. one celebrates the sport and one celebrates the
kids and thus if you are a diverse school with a large Canadian fan or team
base why not play both or 3?

>I agree. I'm 65 and patriotic as well. Served my time in the Navy.
>Enlisted, not drafted and proud of my service and accomplishments while
>serving.
>I have been involved in sports my whole life - 40 years in the media. I
>first time I asked "why," when they played the anthem, I couldn't come up
>with a reasonable answer.
>
>Thomas Rowe wrote:
>
>At the risk of getting run out of the country on a rail, let me point out
>that playing anthems, whether only ours or many, is an innovation of the
>latter half of the 20th Century.  Let me ask this:  What purpose is
>served?  Is it an expression of patriotism?  If so, why do we insist on a
>display of partriotism at the beginning of a sports event?  The practice
>is ubiquitous, but IMO it serves no real purpose.  Carry it to its logical
>extreme and we will have a band ready to play the U.S. and whatever other
>National Anthems for each group of golfers who tee off on the first hole
>of every tournament.
>
>I am as patriotic as the average citizen, but I have never understood the
>need to have the National Anthem played at sporting events.
>
>I think maybe I'll turn off my mail program now before I get fried in effigy.
>
>Tom Rowe                            UWSP dept of Psych
>===================================
>Home of Division III National Champion Pointers
>89, 90, 91 & 93 and National Runners-up 92 & 98
>and likely never again in the final skate
>===================================