Are Pre-game Anthem's Obsolete?

[squ1g33]

As a Hab fan, I am embarrassed at the way Montreal fans treat the American anthem. However, throughout the whole year there is nothing more redundant than listening to two (2) anthems before every game (involving an American team). Why exactly? what is the patriotism about - this is a sport played by 10+ countries where every team fields players from all over the world. This is hardly about patriotism. Not to mention the only two countries in the mix are Canada and the USA.

IMO, Anthems should only be played for International competitions. Now what to do with the pregame start? Simple, each team should have some "anthem of their own" that a singer can sing.

[kiprusoffk]

I don't know. I kind of like the tradition. Maybe just the home anthem would be better.

[Kid-Canada_mtl]

It is actually kind of hilarious when the American anthem is played and there are more people from a European country on an American team than players from the USA. (Say the Panthers with 5 Czechs and 3-4 Americans).

I think it is really just designed to get the home crowd cheering a bit more at the beginning of the game.

[ophone]

Yupp, you have a point.

Here in Europe national anthems are only played at international encounters of national teams.

[Guest]

Does nothing for me. I'm indifferent whether they play them or not. I'm sure i'm not alone.

[dfrancis]

I odn't really care. While it's a nice tradition, i don't think I'd miss it, nor would I miss the inevitable "Star spangled banner" booing by drunk Habs "fans"

"

[Guest ForeverGuyLafleur]

Being also a fan of soccer in the Premiership and the Champions League, that kind of debate is settled in one way: bring on an anthem composed for the league/competition only. Personally, it would settle everything in my book and avoid the whole crap around booing national anthems.

IMO, Anthems should only be played for International competitions. Now what to do with the pregame start? Simple, each team should have some "anthem of their own" that a singer can sing.

Now that say it, I would love to hear "Bleu, Blanc, Rouge" all the way at the beginning of each home match for all Habs fans to identify themselves with something and sing all hearts out.

[Lynch_mtl]

I have always found the pre-game anthem to be a bit silly. When you sing the American/Canadian anthem at the Olympics, it means something, because it is a battle between two nations, so let these nations be represented through their anthem. Very appropriate and sometimes very moving, emotional. But it seems almost out of place in a Montreal game where players are taken from all over the world to represent a franchise, not even a city, let alone a country.

So what's with the forced patriotism? Seems to be nullifying the effect the anthem used to have on me. I used to have pride when I heard the anthem, proud to live a such a great place. Now when I hear it, a smirk appears on my face as the first thing that comes to mind is the old CH logo. Almost sad really, as now the American anthem still gives me goosebumps, but the Canadian anthem brings a smirk to my face.

[Guest Carey_Price]

I'm kind of embarrassed to see all those habs fans boo the American anthem as well, it's extremely disrespectful and classless. They should just play the home anthems instead so fans don't humiliate themselves if and when they boo the other anthem. Also sitting through two anthems every game can be irritating sometimes I bet, that's why only the home anthem would make sense. The teams should honour the country they belong to, while they should respect the opposing teams country, they shouldn't necessarily honour it by playing the anthem.

[catt-_mtlc]

I'm kind of embarrassed to see all those habs fans boo the American anthem as well, it's extremely disrespectful and classless. They should just play the home anthems instead so fans don't humiliate themselves if and when they boo the other anthem. Also sitting through two anthems every game can be irritating sometimes I bet, that's why only the home anthem would make sense. The teams should honour the country they belong to, while they should respect the opposing teams country, they shouldn't necessarily honour it by playing the anthem.

I feel the same way booing the American anthem is uncalled for. I love to hear the anthems at the beginning of the games its a wonderful tradition.

[thefooligan5]

As a Hab fan, I am embarrassed at the way Montreal fans treat the American anthem. However, throughout the whole year there is nothing more redundant than listening to two (2) anthems before every game (involving an American team). Why exactly? what is the patriotism about - this is a sport played by 10+ countries where every team fields players from all over the world. This is hardly about patriotism. Not to mention the only two countries in the mix are Canada and the USA.

IMO, Anthems should only be played for International competitions. Now what to do with the pregame start? Simple, each team should have some "anthem of their own" that a singer can sing.

I agree, it is completely pointless. Even uber-patriot Don Cherry said this a few months back to my surprise. One of the only things I agree with him on. The game would not suffer in the least and even though it's only a couple of minutes I would love the see the boys face-off almost immediately after coming onto the ice instead of having to wait through thr traditional beating of the chests. But I can't imagine the anthems ever being taken away from the game - unless perhaps enbough fans begin booing the opposing nation's anthem ... so boo away habs fans, boo away.

[FlHabsFan]

Not sure how it is in Canada, but here in the US they play the anthem in almost every sport at every level. From kids leagues to senior leagues. (Except for sports like golf and bowling.)

[Manatee-X]

I loved what they did before the American anthem last time:

"And now for the national anthem of the USA, home of Canadiens Brian Gionta, Scot Gomez, Hal Gill, etc".

A not so subtle message to the fans, but done in a positive way.

[FlHabsFan]

I loved what they did before the American anthem last time:

"And now for the national anthem of the USA, home of Canadiens Brian Gionta, Scot Gomez, Hal Gill, etc".

A not so subtle message to the fans, but done in a positive way.

Yeah. IVe never understead anthem booing or yelling things like 'Your country sucks!' when half or more of the players on your team are from that country...

[ANDRESU]

Not sure how it is in Canada, but here in the US they play the anthem in almost every sport at every level. From kids leagues to senior leagues. (Except for sports like golf and bowling.)

In USA everybody sing it, even when they take a shower.

But Canada is different.There`s no crazy patriotism.

That`s the point.24 of 30 teams are americans.

But NHL is an international league,not only for the players,

also for the TV watchers.

National anthems are prety nice on international tournaments.That`s it.

[leafs_rock_go_mccabe]

I don't know. I kind of like the tradition. Maybe just the home anthem would be better.

I voted 'yes', but am a little more in favor of your proposal. Just the home anthem would be fine.

[fourtrax]

The dinosaur patriotism is kind of weird in this day and age of teams with mixed nationalities.

I don't care about the booing. If people want to boo the anthem, they can boo the anthem. Far worse things happening in the world than anthem-booing.

But I like hearing The Star-Spangled Banner. Beautiful piece of music.

[teststory]

I used to love hearing the American National Anthem when I was younger, but can't feel the same pride as an adult. Perhaps younger American's can feel pride in it somewhere. As pointed out it was done first in a time when most of the players were Canadian or American. Now half the league is made up of European players. Personally I would prefer they did not play the anthems as it has nothing to do with the games. It's even worse in this day and age when the players have no affinity to the country they are playing in because they didn't grow up there. They are just there for the money and when they are done they go back to their home country.

[bailey1]

I'm for removing the anthem. Aside watching hockey all the time, I love football aswell, and watch many of the leagues in europe.

You don't hear, God Save The Queen, before every match in the EPL.

For LiverpoolFC, my club, You'll Never Walk Alone(YNWA) is sung by the KOP and the rest of the stadium.

Bleu-Blanc-Rouge could be our anthem. That would be a sweet anthem. Or Les Canadiens Sont La.

Save national anthems for world/international/olympic events.

[Fanpuck33]

In USA everybody sing it, even when they take a shower.

But Canada is different.There`s no crazy patriotism.

Despite the only reason for such a silly comment is to try and cause trouble, I'll still respond. There's nothing crazy about being from the US or Canada.

Yeah, people just go around belting out the anthem in the US. Fewer than half of Americans even know all the words and only a small fraction of those can sing it the right way. Canadians are far more proud of their anthem that Americans are. Just use your ears. Do you ever hear American arenas belting out the anthem like Canadian fans do? Last Montreal game I went to in Columbus, the spattering of Habs fans sang louder than the 15,000+ Jackets fans.

All that being said, I like the tradition. In the US, hearing the anthem at sporting events is just about the only way many people even know what it sounds like. Sure, kids probably spend a week learning it in music class, but then when else do they hear it again after that?

[ChiLla]

Get rid of it. Never understood the point of having 2 anthems played when there's players from all over the world going at it a few minutes later.

[ANDRESU]

I'm for removing the anthem. Aside watching hockey all the time, I love football aswell, and watch many of the leagues in europe.

You don't hear, God Save The Queen, before every match in the EPL.

For LiverpoolFC, my club, You'll Never Walk Alone(YNWA) is sung by the KOP and the rest of the stadium.

Bleu-Blanc-Rouge could be our anthem. That would be a sweet anthem. Or Les Canadiens Sont La.

Save national anthems for world/international/olympic events.

agree +1000

[ANDRESU]

Despite the only reason for such a silly comment is to try and cause trouble, I'll still respond. There's nothing crazy about being from the US or Canada.

Yeah, people just go around belting out the anthem in the US. Fewer than half of Americans even know all the words and only a small fraction of those can sing it the right way. Canadians are far more proud of their anthem that Americans are. Just use your ears. Do you ever hear American arenas belting out the anthem like Canadian fans do? Last Montreal game I went to in Columbus, the spattering of Habs fans sang louder than the 15,000+ Jackets fans.

All that being said, I like the tradition. In the US, hearing the anthem at sporting events is just about the only way many people even know what it sounds like. Sure, kids probably spend a week learning it in music class, but then when else do they hear it again after that?

I`m not going to replay your "silly" quote.

I let it do Jean Paul Sartre,one of the greatest philosophers,maybe you who is?

"the degree of patriotism of a nation is always parallel to the degree of stupidity of his citizenship"

[ANDRESU]

I travel in severak countrys,and i`ve never seen a country who use the the flag

everywhere,anytime like in USA.

When i`ve been in Canada,I didn`t see that.

Cause your use the therm "silly" about me,I`m going to use the words of

Jean Paul Sartre,one of the greatest philosophers,maybe you Know who is?

"the degree of patriotism of a nation is always parallel to the degree of stupidity of his citizenship"

[Mathradio]

It is best used in international competitions.

The pre-game anthems were good when the NHL basically had players from only 2 countries but, as hockey gets popularized elsewhere, NHL rosters will no longer be dominated by Canadian and U.S. players. It was made obsolete in NHL play when the "European Invasion" began.