[Today’s run: 3.5 miles]
I’ve been told that the United States is unusual in its tradition of having the national anthem play at large sporting events. The only sporting events I have been to outside of the US have been marathon races and I was so far from the action that I can’t say what happened or didn’t happen.
But I kind of enjoy hearing someone give a try at singing the anthem.
The “controversy” in the NFL these days is a tempest in a teapot as far as I’m concerned. Taking a knee and being respectful isn’t the usual way, but it doesn’t seem like it warrants WW-III. Now, the guys who just sit on the bench and mope kind of get on my nerves.It seems like getting off the bench wouldn’t be putting themselves out very much as a gesture toward their homeland. In a few minutes they’ll be shouting about a ball and beating each other up. Maybe their emotions are 100% mercenary and they are lethargic until paid. Ok, so the bench-mopes I can do without. The kneelers don’t bother me. And really none of them bother me because I rarely watch an NFL game and would just coincidentally stumble on any pregame events.
Now, college football around here is serious stuff. They have a color guard, the anthem, and frequently a flyover of airplanes. When the home team scores the ROTC people fire off a cannon and do push-ups. I guess the ROTC people could go on strike and start moping on the bench until the country shapes up. That might be interesting.