Before every single NBA game, both teams line up at their respective ends of the court while the national anthem is performed live. It's a ritual that we've become so accustomed to seeing, that we're not exactly doing a roster check or a headcount to make sure that every player from each team is participating.If we did, then we'd notice the conspicuous absence of Brandon Roy from the festivities.
Portland's all-world guard has chosen since last season to spend this time alone in the tunnel, instead of on the court with his teammates. And while he's not doing this as any kind of protest, it might be sending the wrong kind of message.
John Canzano of The Oregonian has the particulars:
It is not a political statement. It is not a protest. He said it is not intended as a slap on patriotism, or the ongoing war but Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy has long been absent from the Rose Garden Arena floor during the national anthem.
For two seasons now, Roy leaves the court before "The Star Spangled Banner" is performed. He waits out of sight, in the arena tunnel, and has a quiet moment of prayer while his teammates stand and honor America together.
Something about that feels troubling.
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Canzano gently points out that, hey, maybe this isn't the best time to have a quiet moment alone. You know, while the rest of your teammates -- along with the opposing team and all of the fans in attendance -- stand as one as a show of respect.
While it might be an inappropriate time for Roy to separate from the group, it's clearly within his right to do so. There's nothing that mandates a player stand in line with his teammates while the anthem is performed -- although if everyone chose to abstain, things might start to get a little awkward. And as a matter of record, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended for a game back in 1996 for refusing to stand for the anthem.
Brandon Roy is the furthest thing from a controversial figure in the game, and has said that if his lack of participation bothers enough people, then he'll stop leaving the court. But it just seems like an odd time in the evening to seek out a personal moment of reflection, and before someone turns this into something bigger than it actually is, it'd probably be in everyone's best interest for Roy to look elsewhere for a few moments that he can have to himself.
Comments (Page 1 of 41)
WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK TO EUROPE FROM WHENCE YER CAME, AND QUIT BEING AN IDIOT BUFFOON DICK-TATER.
With comments like that, you wonder why he won't say a pledge to this country. Thats the kind of actoins that create problems like that. Why should he pledge alligence to a country where people feel like you about him. Congradulatoins, you are doing a bang up job of showing why he has valid reason not to. Way to go. Lets show these negros they will never be real americans no matter what they do. they are already starting to lose hope and just becoming criminals seling drugs to the kids, and thinking they have no other way. If you keep it up, you won't have to fight terroist over seas, you will break them enough to have our very own home grown here made out of our own citizens.
Dude put your meth drug down.
Roy thinks that he is all that, not.
Maybe he is a Jehovah's Witness.
He wants to have a moment by himself before each game, during the National Anthem is NOT the time to do it. He can do it any other time. It is so disrespectful to this country, his teammates, the fans, and every soldier who fought for the freedoms we have in this country. A multi-millionare NBA player snubbing our anthem. Shameful.
1 11-25-2009 @ 9:29AM
FRANK said...
"Roy thinks that he is all that, not." ~~~~~~ He's playing in the National Basketball Association. You?
Yah I agree with you and James comment!!!!!! Making his millions in America BECAUSE WERE FREE!!!!! yet, can't show his respect!!!!! Lets see if he goes to mmmmmmmm........... Iran, Cuba, North Korea etc etc. and see if he can make his money there or for that matter CHOOSE to do what he wants to make the money!!! It truly makes me sick these people who LIVE in America but hate it so much, or disrespect it so much!!! If it is so horrible here. Leave!!!!!!!! I am proud and THANK GOD I live here!!!!!!!!!!!! And I realize all the men and woman who have died, got hurt physically, mentally and any other ways to help AMERICA TO STAY FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sedona, just because he is an athlete doesn't make him better or worse than anyone else!
i became a fan back when he was with U of Washington ... I knew he would become a star ... he does it all ... but now I dont care ... go make your $ in Europe scumbag!
wow, he's not disrespecting america, or the american flag. stop letting your hatred that he's making a lot of money p*** you off.
he can hear the song and see the flag from the tunnel. and unlike everyone else just going through the motions when the song is being sung, he's actually saying a prayer. an honest prayer. in private. so he doesn't have to deal with morons screaming separation of church and state. good for him. and shame on mr. pollakoff who tried to make something beautiful, a prayer to god, ugly. i won't go there with him, or any of you.
Brett, He probably is a Jehovah's Witness and he doesn't need your pompous advice. If he is a JW and he does stay on the court, the only reason you will see him remain standing is because he is ALREADY standing. He won't make a point to sit down when the national anthem starts. It's not a political statement or any dislike of the country.
It was probably before your time, but this was also an issue for Dave Meyers of the Milwaukee Bucks. He was the second overall pick in the NBA (out of UCLA). He was a Jehovah's Witness, who went so far as to quit the NBA after only 4 seasons, due to his faith.
Maybe he just wants some time to himself.
Sedona Nightshadow said...
"Roy thinks that he is all that, not." ~~~~~~ He's playing in the National Basketball Association. You?---------- That means nothing to me there Nightstalker.
Read the first sentence. I think "so accustomed to" says it all. Nothing special, just somethjing we've become accustomed to. No problem with someone taking it seriously enough to want to not just go through the motions.
I agree. Children are taught to do it in school, no questions, just do it. They don't know or understand why. Its just a motion.
How does saying the national anthem help the soldiers at all? I say praying for our country is doing and saying a lot more than going through the motions of the pledge of allegiance. And I'm not even religious.
When American soldiers are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, he should probably make the effort to stand for a couple of minutes to honor their efforts. Perhaps his financial adviser (and shoe company) might want to have a word with him as well, as this conduct will not be conducive to endorsement deals.
What does having a couple of minutes for prayer during the national anthem got to do with American soldiers dying in the line of duty??
He's not playing basketball to honor the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its just a game. Shameless opportunists are now trying to say that it is unpatriotic if you don't go with the herd. These are doubtless the same people who go out and drink their beer in front of children and scream out epithets at the other team and the referees. But those people are just fine. There is nothing Holy about the national anthem. Rather than antagonize anybody, he stays out of their way until their superficial ceremony is over and then plays as hard as he can. What else do you want, a loyalty oath?
Odd that you choose to honor those that defend freedom by criticizing the exercise of that freedom.
Soldiers are dying because your government sent them there to die. It has nothing to do with freedom, or Roy, or a shoe company or a stupid national anthem.