The National Anthem Doesn't Make The Cut Anymore

How long has this been going on?  The trend snuck up on me while I wasn't paying attention.  As part of televised sporting events, we don't get to hear the national anthem anymore, at least not usually.

I've been following the baseball playoffs, and the anthem has been relegated to the mostly-ignored pre-game show, not the actual game coverage.  During the regular season of any major TV sport, you just don't see it/hear it anymore.  Must not have made the ratings cut.

In our culture, virtually every sort of game at any level begins with some version of the national anthem.  (I'll always remember the version at Buster Jr.'s little league games -- a horrible old cassette tape played through the world's worst PA system.)  In days not long past, you always heard it right before the start of every game on radio or TV, usually sung live by someone.  Mostly, these were routine and unremarkable, but they were an expected part of the deal.  ". . . And the home of the brave."  Play ball!  But now we don't get the chance to hear it unless it's the Super Bowl or an equivalent big-money event.

As songs go, the Star Spangled Banner is a bit of a clunker, but it's only two minutes and I think we're missing out by missing it.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm no flag-waving, Faux News "patriot."  I hate that shit.  But I do love a really well-done, stirring version of the national anthem.  Surely there's room in the broadcast to squeeze in a short song, without significant loss of almighty ad revenue.

On Monday night before the Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays game, a member of the Canadian military sang both the Star Spangled Banner and Oh Canada, and he was great!  Strong voice and delivery, just nailed it!  But he sang in the pre-8 p.m. pre-game, so most viewers missed it.  I caught it essentially by dumb luck.


Well done, the national anthem can be a thing of beauty.  Examples abound: 

Any rendition by the Metropolitan Opera's Robert Merrill at Yankee Stadium.  Here he is before Game One of the 1996 World Series.


Also strong was Rocco Scotti, the Singing Plumber of old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.  This is from the 1981 MLB All Star Game.


One of the most memorable renditions ever was by Jose Feliciano prior to Game 5 of the 1968 World Series in Detroit.  Remember, this was during a year of great social upheaval, at the height of the Viet Nam War, and here comes this little long-haired Puerto Rican guitarist in shades giving the old Star Spangled Banner a dose of flamenco.  Cojones!


Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All Star Game.  You didn't know the national anthem was a make-out song, did you?  It is when Marvin does it.


Whitney Houston before the 1991 Super Bowl.  This was a true Super Bowl production, with brass bands and fly-over jets.  But Whitney's voice made all that glitz seem to unimportant.  Maybe the single best rendition ever.


At Game 3 of the 2000 World Series, 'N Synch did a beautiful a capella version in five-part harmony.



This one is not well done, but it's still beautifully done:

At a 2003 NBA Playoffs game, Coach Mo Cheeks helps a young singer who forgot the lyrics.



And these two are historically, hilariously god-awful:

In 1990, the San Diego Padres let Roseanne Barr do the national anthem.  Why?  She caps off her performance with a crotch grab and a spit.


Carl Lewis is an all-time great Olympic track and field athlete.  A singer?  Not even close.  From a 1993 NBA game.  The reaction from ESPN's Charley Steiner is priceless.



To hell with two minutes of ad revenue.  Good or bad, you just don't want to miss this stuff!  Bring back the national anthem!