It started at baseball games right after we entered WW1 and they never stopped after that.

What are your thoughts on the 7th inning, Stretch?

You really should be murdered.

You can't tee something like that up for me and then expect me to do nothing.

Things like the Pledge or Anthem are all meant to demonstrate national unity and a shared culture against a backdrop of our different identities. Sadly, instead of bringing us together to celebrate our great nation, these things are turning political like so much of our society.

I have no clue why they play them at games. Until a year ago, it just seemed woven into our sports culture and not particularly controversial.

Several years ago Dan & Terry got into a discussion of how the national anthem should be sung. Terry felt Wayne Messmer sung the anthem the correct way. With all of the bluster about standing for the anthem, bringing politics into sports, kneeling during the anthem, etc. - why is the anthem even played at a sporting event? Sports is nothing more than entertainment. There's nothing patriotic or nationalistic about American sports. At least Olympians represent their respective country. Pro athletes are two steps above Ninja Warriors. I sit hear struggling to come up with a Vegas show, music concert, or movie premier that played the national anthem at the beginning. Even more so, is the anthem played before golf or bowling tournaments? I don't recall it being played or sung at the Masters. So, why is it so prominently displayed before NFL games? Didn't the playing of the national anthem, the presence of military personnel, and Presidents throwing out first pitches many many years ago make sports political? So, why is it now - when Colin Kaepernick takes a knee - are people complaining about the "politics" in sports? Where these same people complaining about politics in sports the week after 9/11? Or, where were the complaints about politics in sports when baseball fans started shouting "USA!" shortly after news circulated that Osama Bin Laden was killed? It makes one wonder how the complainers would have reacted to Muhammed Ali's conscientious objection to being drafted during the Vietnan War. Or when Ted Williams hired an attorney to get out being shipped to fight in World War II? Of course, these are the same idiots who yell, whistle, and scream during the national anthem at Blackhawk games while holding their beer. But, that's not disrespectful. Not at all.