Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf famously caused anthem controversy in ’96
You may have read John Canzano’s article in the Oregonian relating to Brandon Roy and his ongoing decision to enter a moment of private reflection during the pre-game national anthems.
For two seasons now, Roy leaves the court before “The Star Spangled Banner” is performed. He waits out of sight, in the arena tunnel, and has a quiet moment of prayer while his teammates stand and honor America together.
Something about that feels troubling. And this is only partly about patriotism.
Roy is the Blazers captain, and leader, and two-time All Star. And the Blazers are busy preaching unity, and trying to find one vision right up until the moment Roy detaches and leaves his team standing on the court without him. And while I understand his desire to have a personal moment to gather his thoughts, I think there is ample time for a meditative moment in the hours leading to the game and I worry that the statement he’s making is one of individualism.
There have been various responses to this topic. I have only two things to say on this:
1. Most importantly, since when did national anthems and patriotism become part of professional sport? This incongruous relationship should end sooner rather than later. Basketball can not be compared to going to war. It is no longer an exclusively American sport. In a league which features numerous international players every night the game is played, where is the significance in all players being forced to stand and show respect to the American national anthem? Sure, these players may not want to disrespect the United States, but where is the direct relationship between the this song and playing basketball? How many other people stand for the anthem before starting their day at work? An NBA game is not the Olympics or World Championships.
2. Canzano has already proven himself to be an attention-seeker when it comes to his articles. Everything he writes has to be taken with a grain of salt. He brought up the topic of Roy’s private choice back on January 28, 2009. Clearly the lack of public response led him to bait further by revisiting the situation, this time with a clear negative opinion on it all.
Other views:
Hardwood Paroxysm (Matt Moore): You can focus on the sacrifices made in this country’s honor probably most of the time, but isn’t your mind going to slip to what you need at the grocery store, or paying that bill, or you know, how the hell you’re going to guard Kobe Bryant?
Roy isn’t blanking, he’s taking a personal moment to reflect, integrating that into his schedule at an appropriate time. To do that night in and night out when it would be easier to stand on the floor and daze out as I’m sure some players are would be easier than what he does. So I’m not upset with Brandon Roy. I admire him.
And frankly, it’s none of our damn business.
Fanhouse (Brett Pollakoff): While it might be an inappropriate time for Roy to separate from the group, it’s clearly within his right to do so. There’s nothing that mandates a player stand in line with his teammates while the anthem is performed — although if everyone chose to abstain, things might start to get a little awkward. And as a matter of record, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended for a game back in 1996 for refusing to stand for the anthem.
Brandon Roy is the furthest thing from a controversial figure in the game, and has said that if his lack of participation bothers enough people, then he’ll stop leaving the court. But it just seems like an odd time in the evening to seek out a personal moment of reflection, and before someone turns this into something bigger than it actually is, it’d probably be in everyone’s best interest for Roy to look elsewhere for a few moments that he can have to himself.
Blazersedge (wilbjammin): This the kind of activist journalism that really bothers me. We have professional athletes that are misogynist, homophobic, and involved in all kinds of really detrimental activities… and Canzano goes after a trivial act that has no bearing on anyone else. I guess there isn’t enough flag-waving going on in sports now.
Patriotism is not measured by how well you recite the Pledge of Allegiance, how teary-eyed you get when Whitney Houston sings the national anthem, or anything like that. What makes a patriot is something that cares about his country, does what he can to contribute positively, and fights injustice when he can. These other symbolic acts Canzano is confusing the United States being like some sort of team that we’re all playing on. Being American does not require uniformity, in fact, American individualism is a blessing of our Constitutional society. Canzano should be embracing the ability of Roy and others to express their selves as they wish because we can do that in America, and the argument that “if all the other players went in the tunnel” is ridiculous, because they won’t go into the tunnel. It is a strawman argument meant to create controversy where there isn’t controversy.
