5 Things You Need To Know About Sports, America And The Anthem

Whitney’s is the most popular, Billy Joel’s is the shortest and Fergie’s is the weirdest. Here are five things to share with your fellow patriots today over burgers and beer.

We can toast to that,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

5 Things You Need To Know About Sports, America And The Anthem

1. Singing the anthem before a sporting event wasn’t always a thing. The tradition started in baseball where the song would be sung on opening day of a season or for special occasions/holidays. It wasn’t sung every game because the powers that be didn’t want to “cheapen it.” That eventually changed to the tradition we know now. HISTORY

2. College bands were originally called upon to play the Star-Spangled Banner before the Super Bowl. Diana Ross was the first pop star to sing the anthem before the big game in 1982. The longest rendition of the anthem at the Super Bowl? Alicia Keys at 156.4 seconds. Shortest? Billy Joel at 90 seconds. THAT WAS QUICK

3. Whitney Houston’s rendition of the anthem is undoubtedly the fan favorite. The not so fan favorites? Before Fergie’s “outside the box" rendition at last year’s NBA (National Basketball Association) All-Star Game, there was Roseanne Barr’s performance at a San Diego Padres (MLB – Major League Baseball) game. Her shrieking of the anthem (and classy crotch grab afterward) reminded us how not to represent our country. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK

4. Singing the Star-Spangled Banner is a lot of pressure especially when it’s before a game you could play in. Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) pitcher Steven Brault sang the national anthem before a game this season, fulfilling a promise to his grandma that he would sing before an MLB game as an MLB player. NOW THAT'S TALENT

5. As if the singing part wasn’t hard enough, try doing it on ice skates. Mark Donnelly found this out the hard way while singing the Canadian anthem, O Canada, before a hockey game. Nothing like hitting the high note with a belly flop. VIDEO

BUT WAIT There's more

You didn’t think we’d leave you without a little something extra to bring up poolside? Today the sports world is talking about the famed hot dog eating contest, the stars and stripes take the field and Japanese fashion takes over Wimbledon. READ

Taking The World By Storm

It’s Monday. Take the world by storm and show them how it’s done.

By impressing them with sports talk of course,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

World Cup

When you’re amped to start a new week. The first weekend in World Cup soccer had all the feels. From the historic tie for Iceland against Argentina that sent the country into happy hysterics while doing the Viking clap (aka the Thunderclap), to the celebration of the game winning goal for Mexico against defending champion Germany that mimicked an earthquake with fans causing seismic activity in Mexico City. In case you feel left out, don’t worry, there are still three weeks left. AND THE CROWD GOES WILD

Overtime

Unlike most interviews with Oprah, this one didn’t end up in tears or with the interviewee jumping on the couch. In her conversation with quarterback Tom Brady (NFL – National Football League), which aired yesterday on OWN Network, he opened up. Brady talked about retirement, how his children have changed his perspective on the game - especially when it comes to losing and why he respects players who kneel for the anthem but hates being called the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). No word if they discussed their food empires over carrots and hummus. WATCH

Sideline stat

Coming off a prolonged absence after wrist surgery, golfer Brooks Koepka won his second straight U.S. Open. Not only is he the first back-to-back winner in 29 years but he was rewarded with a nice little winner’s check for $2.19 million. That’ll work.

Not having a great tournament? Birthday boy Phil Mickelson. All hell broke loose on the course after he hit his moving ball before it rolled down a hill. That’s against the rules and the USGA (United States Golf Association) threatened to disqualify him from the tournament. Although his golf partner Andrew “Beef” Johnson found it hilarious (Beef was also using an Arby’s bacon beef and cheddar golf towel during the tournament so there’s that), many golf purists had their panties in a bunch over his troubling move. AGHAST  

Coaches’ corner

It’s the 25th anniversary of the movie The Sandlot and the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB – Major League Baseball) honored the cult classic during “Sandlot Night." They recognized the actors from the movie, did a sweet t-shirt giveaway and showed the flick after the game. There have been no reports on how many times “you’re killing me smalls” was said throughout the celebration. FLASHBACK

What to watch

Confused on why a tie in World Cup soccer is a good thing? Stay tuned to our social media channels tomorrow afternoon for that answer in our Sports Curious Question of the Week. Have a burning sports question you’d like to know the answer to? Send us a note on social media (buttons below) or at theteam@lastnightsgame.com.