Patriot Games

Flag-waving and sports are becoming a tired mix

It is ironic that the United States, which places less emphasis on international sports than any other large nation, probably most connects patriotism to sports. Of course, the sincere demonstration of national feeling has been outsized throughout our culture since Sept. 11th. Nevertheless, we often overdo our expressions of American pride at sporting events. Sometimes this is merely too much of a nice thing. Other times it verges, almost tactlessly, on the kind of chauvinism that irks other peoples.

The Super Bowl, for example, proved that while patriotism may be the last refuge of a scoundrel, its most cloying address is always the 50-yard line. Football is the most martial of sports, and with its attendant marching bands, the association to the parade ground has been too much for gridiron Ziegfelds to pass up. Cue the flyover jets.

It is baseball, though, which is responsible for the unique American custom of playing our National Anthem before everyday games. Other countries only trot out their anthems for major championships. The Star-Spangled Banner debuted in the stadium during World War I at the 1918 World Series. It was only during World War II, however, that it became ritual, remaining so ever since, in peace and war, so that now everyone knows the last two words of our anthem are "play ball." Moreover, in recent years, in all sports, it has become nearly requisite to announce, in stentorian tones, precisely why the anthem is played. It is . . . "to honor America." Why do they have to explain that to us?

It is revealing that while the flag became a disputed icon during Vietnam, the anthem was never so controversial. Can it be that The Star-Spangled Banner was, by then, more associated with games than nation? Repetition cheapens, even patriotic repetition. Anyway, it is true that the flag first came back into all our good graces because of a game -- the U.S. hockey team's defeat of the Soviets in 1980. So it was, in an arena, that the Vietnam War finally ended at home.

Alas, we often show our most insensitive face during Olympics. All nations cheer their own athletes, of course, but we are so large, so blessed -- and so often the host country -- that our patriotic boisterousness -- "U!S!A!, U!S!A!" -- often comes across as smug superiority. NBC has promised to go easier on the jingoism and even -- gracious sakes -- to actually showcase the names and faces of those underprivileged winners who are not so fortunate to be American citizens.

Well, don't ask me. How do you think NBC is doing as our Olympic concierge?

The network has acknowledged that the dreadful attacks of Sept. 11th will help its ratings. We have tended to come together more since then, watching wholesome television as whole families. Furthermore, the Olympics graciously allowed us to bring our flag of tattered glory from the World Trade Center into the opening ceremony, and that made for a precious moment indeed. It should also serve as the right time for all our sports events to stop commemorating that sad day. We don't have to feel guilty about enjoying games anymore than we should feel the need to be braggadocio about winning them.

Sports Illustrated senior contributing writer Frank Deford is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com and appears each Wednesday on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. His new novel, The Other Adonis (Sourcebooks Landmark), is available now at bookstores everywhere.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.

 

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