Bruce Arena sees no reason to play U.S. anthem in pro sports

ESPN ^ | 6/18/2020

[neverevergiveup]

New England Revolution and former United States men's national team coach Bruce Arena says he sees no reason to play the national anthem before pro sporting events in the United States.

Arena told ESPN's Taylor Twellman he understood the decision of athletes to take a knee during the U.S. anthem in protest of police brutality, but admitted he struggled to understand the anthem's relevance prior to pro sporting events in this modern era.

[neverevergiveup]

From my perspective, playing the national anthem before sporting events is a way of honoring those people who gave their lives protecting our way of life, so that we could spend time playing games. Lots of boys/men died in their youth, while putting their lives on the line on beaches, in jungles, and in other places around the globe. Those were people's children, and some were the fathers of children, as well as being someone's husband. Professional sports are among the 'non-essentials' in our world. Those blessed with the talent to play games for a living should have some humility.

[Army Air Corps]

Who is this D-bag?

[ealgeone]

The goal of the Left all along. Next it’ll be why fly the flag.

[cyclotic]

Whoever he is, whoever the Revolution is and whatever sport they play...Who cares. Same for his opinion

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

A Commie coach who hates America.

[Vision]

Bruce, I see no reason why you should stay in the US. Get out you ungrateful pos.

[PGR88]

I went to a Rugby match which had international teams, so instead bag-pipers played “Amazing Grace” and the entire stadium sang along. It was glorious.

[rigelkentaurus]

I see no reason for pro sports.

[elpadre]

I don’t know the answer, but doesn’t every country play their national anthem at sports events??

[FrdmLvr]

Just keep the idiot players in the locker rooms until after the national anthem like they used to. And no cameras allowed.

[Lurkinanloomin]

I see no reason to attend ANY games, no matter the sport.

[windsorknot]

What? And take away the opportunity for a bunch of overpaid, “oppressed” SJWs to virtue-signal before every game?

[plain talk]

Probably whople teams will take a knee along with the coaches. If the players are going to trash it why play it?

[the OlLine Rebel]

Oh, it was OK when BB games started it in the early 1900s, but not relevent today?

Look, I’m actually not sure it had to be played, either, but not because I hate it.

In fact, I’d say take the anthem away and take away a virtue-signaling opportunity for these jackasses.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Hey you Bozos. He’s right. The big fella confirmed congress mandated it to take the publics mind off the depression. Chickens now coming home. Just what does the national anthem have to do with sports? Answer me.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Oh they’d have a fit over that. Excluding Moslems and atheists...

[the OlLine Rebel]

Exactly. Don’t give them any opportunity.

[the OlLine Rebel]

You’re right. The funny thing is so many FRers assume as if it’s always been this way, for NFL. But that’s a recent incarnation, at least for NFL.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Buzz off (I’m trying to be nice)

[the OlLine Rebel]

Another reason to prefer horse-racing. They play the anthem, and there is very little virtue-signaling. Not saying it can’t happen, but in some ways being an individual sport makes it more dispersed and hard to make a statement. Horses don’t do all this garbage.