Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?

Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Feb 10, 2021

No Comments

Is now the time that we break the long-standing tradition of playing the national anthem before sporting events?  Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban thinks so, prompting a larger discussion around the contemporary challenges pertaining to respect (and alleged disrespect) around the American flag and players who elect to kneel during the anthem.  Now, several years after Colin Kaepernick started kneeling in 2016 when others stood for the anthem, the movement has grown from the NFL to college, high school, and even youth sports.  Another noticeable trend is that after all these displays, there is nowhere near any consensus on what is OK and acceptable, and the divide only seems to be growing, not shrinking.

The national anthem and sports

There is quite a history between the national anthem and sports, and over time it has become an American tradition for the anthem to be played before games.  Prior to Kaepernick’s kneeling, there really wasn’t much debate over the anthem, and spectators voluntarily rose from their seat during the song without giving much thought to it.  Things have changed, however, and increasingly more athletes in recent years have exercised their first amendment rights and peacefully protested perceived inequities by kneeling, rather than standing, when the anthem is played.  Predictably, others who stand for the anthem have objected to those who kneel, and the gap between what is good and bad, right and wrong pertaining to America, the national anthem, and respect toward the United States has remained a big issue.  As a result, at least one sports owner (Cuban) has decided to put the entire issue to bed by simply not playing the national anthem before games.

While rising for the national anthem before games has become custom to many of us, times change, and perhaps Cuban’s decision to eliminate the song will be the first of many sports owners to follow suit.  The kneeling movement has had unintended consequences, including fans turning on players who kneel, teammates arguing amongst themselves about whether to kneel or not, and players being traded — or not signed, as with Kaepernick — largely or exclusively because they chose to kneel for the anthem.  Many of these reactions have hit owners in the wallet, prompting some of them (like Cuban) to finally eliminate the problem altogether.

Where we don’t hear the national anthem…

When we step back and look at how common it is to hear the national anthem before games, we might also want to think about how common it is to not hear the national anthem before other life events.  For example, we don’t think twice nor have a problem not hearing the anthem before music concerts, movies, theater shows, commencements, award dinners, and countless other everyday events.  Furthermore, just because we don’t hear the national anthem does not in any way make us less patriotic, or less of an American citizen.  In fact, I suspect some people might even be bothered if all the events I just mentioned began playing the anthem, and further delaying the start of a concert, show, or ceremony.

The point here is that somehow, over time and random events, we as Americans began to normalize the national anthem being played before games.  It is important that we balance that with the fact that many other important events happen every day and without any symbolism of the flag and national anthem, and we don’t think of those events as “un-American.”  Simply put, we don’t expect the national anthem to be played before a concert, nor do we boycott attending concerts because the national anthem is not played.

Final thoughts

As times change, thinking sometimes changes as well.  Americans who have knelt during the anthem have exercised their right to do so, and those who oppose the kneeling movement have every right to feel unsettled if they choose to feel that way.  We are at an impasse where it does not look like those two opposing views will remedy any time soon, resulting in new ways to handle this growing challenge.  Mark Cuban has decided to keep sports and patriotism separate from this day moving forward, leaving countless professional, college, interscholastic, and youth sport teams and leagues to decide of they should do the same.

drstankovich.com

 

anthem, cuban, fans, kneeling, mavericks, psychology, sport

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • February 2, 2023 Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • January 30, 2023 Your Toughest Competition for Future Success is…YOU!
  • January 25, 2023 The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • January 23, 2023 When it Comes to Mental Health, Words Matter
  • January 17, 2023 What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?

PREVIOUS POST

Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement

NEXT POST

Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School

Category

Emotional Intelligence , Fan Behavior , Leadership and Role Modeling , League Operator , Life , Off Field Issues , Prep , Pro , Pro and College Sports , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sports Culture and Society , Uncategorized

Tags

anthem, cuban, fans, kneeling, mavericks, psychology, sport

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • Your Toughest Competition for Future Success is...YOU!
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • When it Comes to Mental Health, Words Matter
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • Applying Psychology: Kids Can Improve Sport Skills by Means of Direct Observation Learning
  • Exploring the Indirect Human Development Effects Video Gaming is Having on Kids
  • Increase Your Chances for Goal Success by Implementing these Strategies
  • When it Comes to Happiness, Health, & Productivity, "Easy" isn't an Option
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓