National anthems bore the arse out of me. The American one especially as it's normally done by some warbling R&B singer who just uses it as an excuse to play vocal gymnastics and stretches it out beyond recognition.
Couldn't agree more. It annoys me especially because I find all nationalism/patriotism very boring and out-of-date. I was born in a country, it doesn't mean I am obsessed with promoting that country and adoring everything about it. To me, nationality is a dated concept. If I was a pro, I wouldn't want my national anthem played, I'd chose some music which was meaningful to me, and fight for all my fans worldwide, not just those who were born relatively close to where I was born.
I don't mind if someone wants to show their patriotism. That's fine. But just wear the colours on your shorts or carry a flag or something. Don't make the event about nationalism.
Agreed. If someone wants to play the anthem as they walk out, they should be allowed to do so. But it shouldn't be imposed on everyone the way it is. That's just my opinion though.
It's actually only the US anthem that bothers me. A combination of me hearing it a million times in my life, and it being just far too long.
I can live with the national anthems. But I DETEST anything that resembles a music concert (ie. Nelly performance) or the WWF/WWE/UFC (ie. sparks or fireworks, strippers and prostitutes walking in with the fighter, etc). I also don't really like it when the fighter walks in with a costume that's WAAAY over the top. But hey, he's the one fighting, so to each his own. I'm an old school kind of guy. I used to love it when Iron Mike would practically be running into the ring from his dressing room, with no music, and just a towel over his head. He's there to fight and he's not F'n around.
i'll second the nelly thing... not nelly himself and that performance, but the idea i think is good i also like the national anthems... call me old-fashioned... but ray charles singing before duran-leonard 2... or the pointer sisters singing before leonard-hearns 2... those are some intense moments
Exactly, or even a few fridays ago at a local show here there was a Polish fighter in the co-main event. They sang the American national anthem which everyone got up for but wasn't a big deal, but the Polish national anthem really ignites the section of the crowd that's there for that fighter. It adds a certain spark to the fight that makes it interesting.
I think boxing is such a tribal sport, the anthems have more of a place in it than in any other sport. Boxing has a level of pride which no other sport can touch and that's represented every time you hear the anthems. Think about fights like Hatton vs. Pacquiao were you have thousands of proud fans, cheering on their man, mainly because he's from their own country. He's the one they support and he represents the entire nation every time he goes to war inside the ring. He carries his nation on his back more than a football/soccer player, a rugby player, a tennis player etc., because there's far more pride involved in boxing. What you see inside the ring are the same emotions that you have when you countries go to war but on a much lesser scale. In certain cases, such as Louis/Schmeling II, the way the fighter represents his nation is the selling point of the fight. It wasn't just Louis/Schmeling, it was America/Germany or Allies/Axis. Obviously that fight is a prime example, but I think that patriotic attitude is seen throughout boxing. Whether it's British fans singing "God Save the Queen" or American fans waving the stars and stripes, it's very patriotic. Boxers, more than any other athletes, are chosen by a nation to represent them as a whole. That's why you get so many national icons or legends in boxing - Think about it. Monzon, Pacquiao, Ali, Tyson, Hatton, Dempsey, Louis, Schmeling, Kessler. They aren't just names, they represent Argentina, the Philippines , America, Britain, Germany and Denmark. No other athletes do that. If you're against national anthems at all, that's fair enough. I do think that if they were to be wiped out, boxing should be the last sport to remove the tradition because the importance of an anthem in boxing, means so much more than an anthem in any other sport.
totally agree with OP. being up at 4,5 even 6 in the morning,you would normally be half dead. but when the main event kicks in the fighters are in thier rooms and come out to the ring and get announced,im buzzin,the excitment of a live fight cannot be beat.
