You get Dan Schulman and Sean McDonough confused all the time, don't ya?

That's a timing issue almost definitely....still good to see it on TV.

I agree with steve on it being a timing issue. ESPN might've shown the National Anthem before a basketball game once this season (before the Eve Carson tribute in Durham; I might have missed a few other instances).

You're right Steve. Though in my defense they're both good and are basically the same person.

Definitely a timing issue, and a good move by McDonough to pause instead of speaking during the anthem.

ugh we have to deal with enough social conformity and worship of the US government in our fucking lives,

if it means having one less commercial break during the actual game, i think its great that TV has largely abandoned the practice of airing the song. I do miss the lineup introductions though.

How much worship of the US government do you really have to do in your life, Evan?

I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I was required to do so, but maybe you're in a different line of work or something.

Evan? Bayh?

Classic 'Cuse collapse. Very laughable.

Who's a UMass grad in the house? THIS GUY!

whats odd is no nascar race rolls off with out the network be it ESPN,FOX,or TNT with out showing the anthem and invocation

@brett:

I thought I was watching a replay of the Pitt loss that kept them out of the Tourney. Hilarious. Can't wait for that Florida-Ohio State NIT championship game...not really.

Yeah, NASCAR ALWAYS shows the anthem and invocation, regardless if it's a Sprint Cup, or Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series. Back in the 80s and 90s,they didn't used to (except for the big races, Daytona, Indy, etc..) up until the big TV deal in 01 with FOX and NBC.

Being the only person in the Syracuse student section cheering for UMass was awesome. Can't say I was surprised by the comeback, Syracuse was an awful 2nd half team this season.

But in the crappy Syracuse band's defense, they weren't allowed to have a full ensemble per NIT regulations. They also had to cut down the amount of cheerleaders on the court, stupid stuff like that.

and that's reason enough to hate the NIT.

"They also had to cut down the amount of cheerleaders on the court, stupid stuff like that."

-dan

You're a baldist.

During international soccer matches, they almost always show both anthems being played. It's great for two reasons:

1) They show the players, and almost all of them are singing along, and

2) They show the crowd, which tend to be the most rowdy, yet most proud crowds, singing along and waving flags as well.

Great sportsmanship if you ask me...

CBC's Hockey Night in Canada often shows the anthem(s).

Of course, who can forget NBC sticking with the Edmonton crowd singing along with both anthems during the Stanley Cup finals!

Thanks for reminding me of that Edmonton anthem. Awesome stuff! The CBC version is on YouTube. I know NBC showed it here in the states too which was amazingly rare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk&feature=related

When in college at the University of Evansville in the 1990s, I broadcast sports events on the school's radio station. There were times where they'd throw back to us after a break in the middle of the national anthem. More than once I had to quickly say, "Our national anthem, joined in progress" upon return.

I've heard announcers talking over the anthem before, which comes across as really low rent. That wasn't even an option for me in most cases -- if you're yakking away during the anthem in a sparsely populated gym before a women's basketball game, you're going to get some dirty looks.

That was a GREAT JOB by McDonough and ESPN as well as the Syracuse band.

For as much grief as I give Syracuse, this time I should commend them.