I don't know. I've never really thought that sporting events were all that appropriate a venue for the anthem(s). It isn't really that it trivializes patriotism, which is a concept that can take care of itself. It just seems to me to be two concepts that have little to do with each other; we don't have orchestras playing the anthem before each concert, or restaurants playing it before dinner is served. It's a tradtition that started during WW2 that nobody ever tried to stop, since it would have seemed unpatriotic. Sports fans don't treat anything else (themselves, the other team, other fans, often their own team) politely. I'm not sure why anyone would expect that to make an exception here. I guess I'm too worried about people using patriotism for actual dastardly ends (like getting elected by casting aspersions upon their opponent) to get exercised about this. Sometimes a little irreverence towards one's own country might actually be a good thing. J. Michael Neal HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.