No national anthem at Mavs game

[TXBamanut]

THIS.

It is actually crazy to me that we think it appropriate or normal and not totally bizarre to play the national anthem at a random sporting event that does NOT actually represent the country or nation.

BUT on another level, it is not bizarre because it was revealed by Jeff Flake and John McCain that the Department of Defense has been in bed with sports leagues in what is termed "paid patriotism." The military sees sporting events as a way to get its "message" and "mission" into the hearts of everyday Americans.

It's not crazy, and you are delving into pretty strange conspiracy theorist territory with your BUT statement.  

I completely see why it is and why it was done, adn it's myopic to come iwth short-sighted dime store comebacks like "why don't you get mad at your employer for not playing it".  The fact is that if someone's employer played it before every game for 30 years, and then all of a sudden, stopped doing it to make a poltiical statement about the country -- which is what he's leaving up for interpretation, considering comments he's made and a lack of explanation on his part -- it's totally reasonable in this climate to be confused and possibly insulted.

I'm not angry with him and slamming things around, but I am seriously considering my support for the team.  That may sound crazy to you, and I'm not making a big political statement, but, depending on his response as to why, I'm not sure that I can watch the game without this statement he made just sitting there on the "screen", so to speak like this sad elephant in the room, for me personally, the whole time.  And it was a statement, not just a format change to innocently try something different.

To say that it doesn't represent this country is pretty myopic as well, because without the United States, and the economy and enterpreneurial opportunity that he, others and professional sports has been afforded by the existence of this country, they wouldn't exist at the level that they do.  There's a reason this doesn't really exist other places and people want to come here in droves. 

No, the country didn't personally do the work, but saying it doesn't matter is like saying the Dad that instilled values in you and sacrificed for you to achieve what you have achieved doesn't matter.  Did they do the work you did?  No, but they set you up to and so has the people and structure of this country.  That is what is being lost as we zoom in on the bad parts...we lose that no matter what anyone says, there are good things here as well, and this seems just like another step...it's bigger than a program change, and Cuban knew exactly what this would do. 

It's like there was this awesome table of food and someone just threw a dead fish into the middle of it and said just go ahead and eat it...it's the same food.  I'm not sure I can...I'm still thinking through it.

I became a fan when they were considered the worst franchise in professional sports, and for the last 25 years, I've proudly repped my team from Cherokee Parks and Martin Mursepp to Erick Strickland and Eddie Najera through Dirk to Luka...all the embarrassment and the jokes, but I'm really not sure that this is one I will survive.

I literally depends on his response...and honestly, guys, sadly enough, silence and dismissive comments meant to belittle people that feel the way I do and backhandedly insult me really won't cut it. 

I know none of you care, and I know Cuban doesn't.  I'm the price of an occasional ticket, and he factored any loss out and all that in before announcing it.  The "no one noticed" thing isn't a deal because there are no fans to notice until last game, because they don't play that part of the festivities on national TV except at large games.

Still...it's saying something to people like me.  It just is.