Here we are again.
The National Anthem at the center of another controversy.
Or I should say it was.
Earlier this season, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban -a maverick in his own right – arbitrarily put the brakes on playing the Star Spangled Banner before NBA games at American Airlines Arena.
Cuban says no one even noticed.
For the first 10 or so games they didn’t even have fans so, no anthem.
I mean, it’s the NBA, I doubt I would have noticed.
You may recall Cuban’s comments last summer.
He said things like the National anthem police was out of control and that American’s didn’t start their work day with the National Anthem.
The notion, he implied, was insulting to have the national anthem played, because the song didn’t represent the values of everyone in the league or at the game.
So fast-forward to now. Within hours of Cuban’s saying see ya to Francis Scott Key…
The NBA says not so fast.
The smack down from New York read like this short and sweet. Crystal clear.
“With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy.”
There is no qualifier of “if they agree with the Anthem”
The irony is rich, so rich the NBA gets it.
The great league that wants to be on the cutting edge of social justice and enlightened thinking, understands.
The same Nation Anthem that drew hundreds of players to bended knee, is also the anthem of a country that lets them.
..And frankly, I’m okay with that. Because no one has silenced the voices.
Because it’s in the discussion and disagreement, the mostly respectful exchange of ideas that makes us a free nation.
It’s the same reason, despite our many problems, America is still the beacon of hope.
It’s why we have to have disagreement and to honestly say we are wrong when someone could be right.
Even a broken clock is right, at least twice a day… but I could be wrong.
RUN TO YOUR GIANT 