High school hockey league nixes national anthem to save time, money
A Pennsylvania high school league's attempt to save money on ice time is backfiring. Big time.
The PIHL, which governs competition in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, told the 183 schools in its purview to stop singing the national anthem before games as a means of saving time—and money.
“It’s not that we’re not patriotic, that’s the furthest from the truth," commissioner Ed Sam told KDKA-TV, noting that ice time in the area costs around $300 an hour.
As is often the case with anthem-related stuff, the story is snowballing, with local news, Fox News and HLN picking up on it. (And now Sporting News, so there's that.) The move came earlier this month, in the run-up to Veterans Day.
Sam's PR problem, though, is self-created—the league has gone from 15 to 17-minute periods in varsity games without extending ice slots. Plus, far from every game is preceded by the anthem—so it's a weird, relatively ineffectual, backlash-guaranteeing measure to take.
Funny how you the various networks prior to airing professional sporting events such as baseball games never air the national anthem. Also, it used to be a regular staple on TV stations before going off the air. OF course, now that all stations are on 24/7 we do not have that. Perhaps it should be aired on TV at a specific time (say 1 a.m.) each morning between programming as an FCC requirement. I know you are against regulation but this is one regulation I believe you would approve of. Additionally, when I was in school we stood each morning and faced the flag and recited the pledge of allegiance. I wonder if they still do??? By the way, I am a liberal and we can be patriotic too!
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