The PORTLAND OREGONIAN’s John Canzano, the designated s-stirrer in the Portland media, had a recent piece on Brandon Roy not being present on the floor for the Blazers when the national anthem goes off.
(Ironic that Mo’s anthem save happened on Roy’s home court)
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. And this is only partly about patriotism.
Roy is the Blazers captain, and leader, and two-time All Star. And the Blazers are busy preaching unity, and trying to find one vision right up until the moment Roy detaches and leaves his team standing on the court without him. And while I understand his desire to have a personal moment to gather his thoughts, I think there is ample time for a meditative moment in the hours leading to the game and I worry that the statement he’s making is one of individualism.
What would the fallout be if Roy’s teammates decided to join their leader in the tunnel? What if Roy weren’t from Seattle, but rather, from Spain, like Rudy Fernandez? What of respect, and heritage, and ceremony? What of team unity and leadership when the ball isn’t in your hands?
With the local reputation Canzano brings to the piece, Portlanders may be more likely to dismiss his argument out of hand. But I think he’s got a valid point, especially considering Canzano’s crafting of the column.
Canzano gives the piece an even-handed treatment, and Roy is forthcoming, saying he’s willing to stop leaving the floor during the anthem if asked. He hasn’t been. Yet. Coach Nate McMillan didn’t sound too excited about Roy’s move, noting he’s the only guy in The League doing it. Sounds like that may change at some point. Especially after Canzano’s piece.
Me? Roy has plenty of time to gather himself via personal quiet time before the anthem. I view his move as much a personal affront to his teammates as to the anthem - though I don’t discount the latter.
Basketball, despite what dogmatic NBA haters may prattle on about, is a team game, and Roy’s move does nothing to promote that concept. I think what he’s doing is selfish, whether unwitting or not.
As Canzano notes, what if everyone did what Roy was doing? Why does he get special treatment? I admire Roy’s want to maximize the effectiveness of his mental approach, but there’s got to be a better way.
As for Canzano, I love that he has the guts to write something like this, and the care that he gave to it. I wish there was a Canzano in every town.
Meantime, let’s enjoy Mo Cheeks‘ national anthem save on Roy’s home court:
For the opposite perspective, check out ESPN True Hoop’s Henry Abbott on the matter.
1:02 pm on November 27th, 2009
UW Husky arrogance at its finest. He’s learned that he’s too special for laws, rules and national customs. When you’re an athlete for a university that has an infrastructure in place to protect rapists (Roc Alexander and Jerramy Stevens) and attempted murderers (Jeremiah Pharms), you learn to do what you want. It’s a lack of humility and Brandon Roy has it. What an insult to the troops risking their life for his safety for about a hundredth of what he makes playing with a ball. This makes me absolutely sick. There can be no adequate explanation.
1:49 pm on November 27th, 2009
Just stand there and collect your pay check my friend. You are not going to change the world. There are plenty of times I don’t like what is going on in government, but i stand up for 3 minutes and take my hat off, what’s the big deal. I also go to church and stand up and sit down and mumble along even though i don’t agree with things there. What point is trying to be made?
If i wear a t-shit that says, “question your leaders” and I work in a kitchen, and about 5 ppl are going to see the shirt my boss will be like, “dude, just turn it inside out” but Roy thinks because he is worth millions he doesn’t have to listen to the boss? Put his ass on the street and see if he will stand for a silly song after a few months.
1:56 pm on November 27th, 2009
reporters..tsktsk. it took them two years to write an article? the except was taken out of context here sbb. for shame. roy went on to say in an interview that he would stop if it bothered anyone. this is his pregame ritual that has helped him become an all-star. for the rest of you patriots badgering roy, go fight in iraq. show us your patriotism. i thought so. you’re just a bunch of fake patriots.
2:10 pm on November 27th, 2009
sdsp…
I did fight in Iraq. So thanks.
And while I personally don’t care what Brandon Roy does, I do think it’s mildly silly of him to do this.
2:15 pm on November 27th, 2009
exactly, fake patriots, who’ve done nothing for this country…
I also like how Brooks says what Roy should do and when he has time to do his own thing, because Brooks played in the NBA? or even played any sport at a legit level? exactly..
2:17 pm on November 27th, 2009
I got me some squirrels in Iraq, and a few possum 2! and, I also think that Roy is an unappreciative asshole!
Pretty soon when Obama’s got Roy and the rest of the country standing in a food line, at least I’ll have me, my squirrels and possum to cook up!
Bubba
2:55 pm on November 27th, 2009
if people were more worried about what’s actually going on with their country than who’s standing for a song, we’d all be much better off…
4:58 pm on November 27th, 2009
its hard to understand what roy’s motivation is. 2 minutes to gather his thoughts and pray during the anthem? he has plenty of time to do that. why at that moment?
with all that loud music playing during time outs, the crowd yelling, opponents talking trash, cheerleaders dancing half naked in front of him during timeouts. but he has to leave during the anthem? he sounds like he could be a hypocrite.
after-all, a true religious person may has issues with the above.
has roy ever explained in detail as to why at that moment he walks away, and not other times? or does he wish to appear “better” than others? a….deep thinker and intellectual?
5:58 pm on November 27th, 2009
Get that goddamn commie/terrorist/vegetarian out on the court with his mates. No excuse for standing in a tunnel by yourself - it’s just weird…and suspicious.
11:40 pm on November 27th, 2009
oh sh*t, he’s a vegetarian too, out with him!!!!
1:22 am on November 28th, 2009
He’s a f ‘n vegetarian too? Just as well, cuz I wuddnt give him any o my possum %squirrel stew any damn way! The unpatriotic POS!
Bubba
7:59 am on November 28th, 2009
So Roy has advertised for over two years that he’s too immature to endure the common decency of American society and customs. And this is so unexpected–that a sports icon would–after years of hubris thrust upon and around him–would not have matured into adulthood.
I can’t consider this unpatriotic, simply because you cannot reasonably claim that a six year old is unpatriotic for the very same thing in the stands. Let Roy have his temper tantrum, or his timeout, or whatever. Playing ball is all he’s good for, after a nice long run, he can retire, go to school, and grow up to be a nice rounded adult.
Then, you can say this is unpatriotic, because then–he’ll just be another a**hole.
8:38 am on November 28th, 2009
I know for a fact that his dad was a US Marine. This does not make any sense. Absolutely inexcusable. What is he thinking!!!
10:38 am on November 28th, 2009
It’s a very simple question of respect — respect for a lot of things — but certainly respect for the country in which you live that affords you the brilliant freedoms and opportunities that you enjoy — and respect to those that volunteer to protect those freedoms.
You stay classy Brandon Roy.
4:25 pm on November 28th, 2009
Ogre, …Roy cannot “stay classy” until he initially exhibits any class at all. Currently he’s just an unpatriotic, POS that ought ot go try to make his livlihood in Darfur or Somalia or Cuba or somewhere else where those conditions might make him appreciate what he has and where the hell he was lucky enough to have been born!
Screw You Brandon Roy! Screw You!
5:06 pm on November 28th, 2009
Can someone help me out a bit here…
Obviously i’m not from the states, but don’t let the russian nick fool you, i’m actually in the uk.
I go to watch professional sports of different types on a regular basis - Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Ice Hockey mainly, and over here we don’t have a rendition of god save the queen before the game every week, and not having it happen doesn’t dampen the atmosphere of the game.
What exactly IS the deal with having the anthem played before all your games over there? I mean, you have the best players at most of your major sports playing over there, and i think everyone knows where they are, so what point does it serve?
and while i’m here, does anyone feel that when you have not US-players in the game on that day, that it might be a tad insulting to them, making them stand through your anthem?
be grateful if someone could try to explain this to me, as it IS something that has always troubled me.
7:44 pm on November 28th, 2009
What’s this? A pro athlete with a mind of his own? A conscience? Solemn and reflective? Aware of affairs beyond his appearances at the Playboy Mansion?
And he’s not even tatted-up and blinged-out from head to toe?
Yeah, let’s get on HIS case.
And c’mon, does the singing of the National Anthem before sporting events really “honor America”? We’re usually spending the 90 seconds thinking about how many beers and hot dogs to buy at the first TV timeout.
11:55 pm on November 28th, 2009
So he doesn’t stand with his team for the national anthem, who cares. Being a good person is patriotic. There are plenty of aholes who have flags on their house, care and wear them everyday. That is a real disgrace.