Posted on 12/17/2007 7:56:58 AM PST by Fiji Hill
Boos for American national anthem put British fans to shame
Ron LewisThe crowd had been billed as one of Ricky Hatton’s biggest assets against Floyd Mayweather Jr, but it became his greatest liability when large sections of the overwhelmingly British crowd disgraced themselves by booing the national anthem of that the country that was hosting them.
The crowd loudly joined in when Sir Tom Jones sang God Save The Queen. But when Tyrese, the R&B singer, stepped forward to sing The Star- Spangled Banner, the United States national anthem, he was almost drowned out. The singer gamely plugged on, but many were outraged. HBO’s commentators were quick to condemn the fans they had been praising moments earlier and one HBO technician in the ring gave a middle-fingered salute to the crowd.
It certainly seemed to galvanise the American support behind Mayweather. Where they had been very quiet, chants of “USA, USA” were shouted when Mayweather got on top.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
From another article. I Thought Mayweathers comments were upstanding.
‘Mayweather said he had the television turned down in his locker room before the fight and said he wasn’t aware the largely British crowd was so resoundingly booing the U.S. national anthem.
A member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Mayweather said he could hear the crowd booing but wasn’t sure what it was about. When he learned of it after the fight, he said he was upset.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” he said. “I was on the Olympics. I represented my country. This victory, more than any other I’ve had, I fought for my country. I had my country on my back. I was respectful toward Ricky Hatton and all of his fans, but that was totally disrespectful to this country. I’m pretty sure Ricky Hatton would tell you that was wrong, too. It bothers me they did that.”’
Maybe “Tyrese” didn’t sing it right?
Low-brow Hooligans...
The English I know would have never done such a thing.
I saw the fight on HBO and I love boxing and MMA. I noticed it, and I’ve said this before: never trust the Brits. They’re still smarting from us beating their arses 250 years ago.
I love Hatton’s demeanor but those british expletives showed ZERO class.
And they call US “ARROGANT”?
Disgusting. I am ashamed of my countrymen.
I was actually rooting for Hatton until I heard the boos ... I instantly became a Mayweather fan ... at least for that fight. After hearing the whining of Hatton after the fight complaining about Mayweather “hitting him with elbows” ... I knew I had made the right decision about routing AGAINST Hatton
And Floyd put Fatton flaton his star spangled banner :-)
Works for me.
Boos for American national anthem put British fans to shame. Got the same thing here in Los Angeles a few years ago when Mexico and the U.S. were playing a soccer game at the Rose Bowel. The entire place was booing our national anthem. When I turned to look at who was booing they started throwing drinks at me.
routing = rooting
They ought to look in the mirror before they start booing us. Their country is crashing and burning, especially now that Gordon Brown has betrayed their basic freedoms to the control of the socialist tyranny EU.
I think folks are reading too much into this. Boxing isn’t a country club sport. It’s ok to heckle the other side. Brits heckle even in Parliament.
I really never take this sort of thing serious. Especially if it’s sporting event and even more so if it’s in Las Vegas. Drunk fans can not be depended on to show class. Out side of the Aussies the English are out biggest supporters.IMHO.
I defended Brit troops on a thread yesterday when I felt they were being unfairly attacked. I believe in our allies.
However, there are a$$holes everywhere and Britain has their share just like us.
Regards
I saw these people walking around the Strip and they were a collection of thugs from Manchester - the kind who start soccer riots. Not to be taken as representative of the British people as a whole.
It would be the equivalent of American ghetto gangsters traveling to an NBA game in London and insulting the Royal Family.
During a game between the US and Mexico February 15, the US soccer team was not only booed and jeered throughout the entire game by Mexican fans, but were continually pelted with water, beer and in some cases solid objects like fruit from the over 60,000 fans in attendance.
One player was hit during with a water balloon during a corner kick attempt. As the team left the field at the end of both halves, beer and other debris rained down on them as they tried to run through the tunnel to their locker room. Mexico’s fans in the end got the best of Uncle Sam as the Mexican national team defeated the US, 1-0.
This type of behavior is nothing new in Mexico, England, most of Europe, or any other Latin American countries. Home nations make it a matter of habit to act like idiots to visiting teams, and this incident was no different; except that it happened in Los Angeles, California!
You're lucky it was just drinks. Mexican national team fans are well-known for the famous 'yellow water balloon' stunt.
But of course - the ABCA countries (America, Britain, Canada and Australia) aren't one large country because of secession and civil war - British historians have referred to the American Revolution as the second English Civil War. Ultimately, they are still related by blood, culture and common values.
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