The national anthems

Gladys Knight promised to “unite and represent our country” with her rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Consider it mission accomplished. The 74-year-old, Grammy-winning singer delivered a powerful, emotional and respectful version of the Star Spangled Banner to her hometown in the prelude to Super Bowl LIII. In a Super Bowl that has been plagued by political controversy swirling around its halftime show, the national anthem drew relatively little pre-game attention, perhaps owing to Knight’s stature as the Empress of Soul. During the song, the cameras avoided showing whether any players were kneeling or doing another form of protest. Both teams are not known for much political action, although a smattering of players on both teams – notably Rams punter Johnny Hekker and New England defensive back Devon McCourtey (one time) have staged minor protests. The US Air Force Thunderbirds capped Knight’s performance, flying overhead in a show of … [Read more...] about Super Bowl LIII National Anthem: Gladys Knight Delivers A Powerful, Controversy-Free Performance

O say, can you see Lady Gaga at Super Bowl 50? Yes, you can. The multiplatinum singer and Globe-winning American Horror Story: Hotel actress is set to deliver “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Big Game this Sunday on CBS. For football nonfans who will watch for the ads and the spectacle, Gaga’s National Anthem will serve as a warmup for the halftime show by Coldplay, which also will feature Beyonce. Last year’s Super Bowl was the most-watched TV event in U.S. history, and viewership spiked even more for the halftime gig starring Katy Perry. It’s a pretty big day for the “Born This Way” singer. Earlier the Recording Academy said Gaga will do a tribute to the late David Bowie during the Grammys on February 15. She’s also perform her Oscar-nominated song “Til It Happens To You,” from the docu The Hunting Ground, at the PGA Awards last month. … [Read more...] about Super Bowl: Lady Gaga To Belt Out National Anthem

Breaking News TMZ.com Mark Cuban has axed national anthems from the Dallas Mavericks' pregame routines this season ... saying Tuesday night, "It was my decision." Cuban added in a message to the New York Times , "I made it in November." The NBA owner declined to further explain the choice ... but it seems clear, Cuban is preferring to have his team avoid all the controversy that's come with the song's playing over the last few years. You'll recall ... after Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the NFL's playing of anthems in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice in America -- critics, including Donald Trump , slammed the move as unpatriotic. Trump went so far as to say the NFL should fire any "son of a bitch" who participated in the demonstration. The polarizing kneeling quickly spread to other sports ... and despite the NBA's longstanding stand-for-the-anthem policy, players and coaches alike knelt during the song's … [Read more...] about Mark Cuban Nixes National Anthems From Dallas Mavericks Games, ‘My Decision’

Breaking News TMZ.com 11:06 AM PT -- The NBA will force Mark Cuban to overturn his new anthem policy ... saying Wednesday the Mavericks now MUST play the song in accordance with the league's "longstanding" rules. "With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas," NBA exec Mike Bass said in a statement, "all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy." The pregame ritual will now presumably return to Dallas on Wednesday, when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Mavs at American Airlines Center. Mark Cuban has axed national anthems from the Dallas Mavericks' pregame routines this season ... saying Tuesday night, "It was my decision." Cuban added in a message to the New York Times , "I made it in November." The NBA owner declined to further explain the choice ... but it seems clear, Cuban is preferring to have his team avoid all the controversy that's come with the song's playing over the … [Read more...] about NBA Overrules Mark Cuban, You Will Play National Anthem at Mavs Games

Breaking News Getty A college basketball team in Virginia was given two options -- stop kneeling for the national anthem or face suspension ... and the players chose to kneel. NAIA Div. II school Bluefield College was forced to forfeit Thursday's conference matchup with Reinhardt University ... after players involved in national anthem demonstrations were suspended from the team. Here's the deal ... the BC Rams team has been kneeling for the anthem during games in January and February this year ... despite school president David Olive telling them to cut it out. Olive decided to take matters into his own hands by unleashing the punishment this week ... saying, "The basis for my decision stemmed from my own awareness of how kneeling is perceived by some in our country, and I did not think a number of our alumni, friends, and donors of the College would view the act of kneeling during the anthem in a positive way." "Pointing to the already fractured and … [Read more...] about College Hoops Team Forfeits Game After Players Suspended For Anthem Kneeling