It香蕉视频直播檚 been a decades-long tradition in North America, but a Canadian professor of sport management says it might be time to re-examine the legitimacy of national anthems being played before games.

Last weekend, sports fans in Canada voiced their displeasure with U.S. President Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 announcement he was raising tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports by 25 per cent. In hockey and basketball arenas across the country, they roundly booed the American national anthem before games.

On Monday, Trump agreed to pause the tariffs for one month. That night, Nashville, Tenn., fans returned the favour before the Predators lost to Ottawa 5-2.

On Tuesday, boos continued before NHL games in Vancouver and Winnipeg as well as Toronto香蕉视频直播檚 Scotiabank Arena before the Raptors-New York Knicks contest.

The spectator angst created headlines worldwide. And it reignited the long-standing debate of whether anthems belong in North American sport.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a great question, it香蕉视频直播檚 definitely timely and topical,香蕉视频直播� said Michael Naraine, an associate professor at Brock University. 香蕉视频直播淚 do think it香蕉视频直播檚 time we look at, 香蕉视频直播楧o we need to play the national anthem before a game?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

While the anthem firestorm is smouldering, it could rage again Feb. 15 when Canada and U.S. meet in Montreal at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

Both anthems have been performed before games for decades, starting as a gesture of solidarity for the troops fighting alongside one another during the Second World War. But singing The Star-Spangled Banner before games south of the border reportedly dates back to the late 1800s.

Naraine said the American military had a role in the anthem being played before U.S. sports events.

香蕉视频直播淲hat many people don香蕉视频直播檛 realize is part of the reason, at least in the United States, why the national anthems were traditionally played was because they were paid advertisements by the U.S. military,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he U.S. Department of Defense, through its various arms like the Army, Navy, etc., would have contracts with major professional sports leagues to play the national anthem, have the military salute, colour guard and things of that nature.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 always been this, I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 call it a dual helix but I香蕉视频直播檇 call it the intertwining of patriotism, the military complex and sport in North America.香蕉视频直播�

Trevor Harrison, a retired political sociologist at the University of Lethbridge, feels eliminating national anthems will be difficult.

香蕉视频直播淰ery much so,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f you suddenly said, 香蕉视频直播楪ood evening folks, we have this game tonight, let香蕉视频直播檚 drop the puck,香蕉视频直播� I think many people would say, 香蕉视频直播楯ust a second here,香蕉视频直播� because we香蕉视频直播檙e so used to it.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 almost like a Pavlovian kind of response.香蕉视频直播�

Offensive lineman Ryan Hunter of the Toronto Argonauts welcomes hearing O Canada before games. After an extended time playing football in the U.S., the North Bay, Ont., native appreciates the chance to hear his own anthem again.

香蕉视频直播淚 grew up listening to (O Canada) every day at school and also in sports,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just something I enjoy and appreciate as part of my pre-game ritual.

香蕉视频直播淚 will say, man, if someone knocks out the national anthem with, say, a guitar or just good vocals, there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing that sets the stage better for a big game than a national anthem that gets the people going 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 always something you remember if you were there.香蕉视频直播�

When Hunter, 29, was in the U.S., the playing of the American anthem was a time for reflection.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a thank you to that country for allowing you to participate in professional sports or high-level sports in their country,香蕉视频直播� said Hunter, the CFL香蕉视频直播檚 top lineman last season. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a good thing to hear to remind you of where you come from.香蕉视频直播�

As does former NHLer Nick Kypreos 香蕉视频直播� who played for Washington, Hartford, the New York Rangers and Toronto from 1986-97.

香蕉视频直播淚 think most of us (pro athletes) are totally on board with that,香蕉视频直播� said the 58-year-old Toronto native, who earned a 香蕉视频直播�94 Stanley Cup ring with the Rangers. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been listening to music for an hour in the dressing room, then we shut the music off and we get serious, everything is focused and ramped up.

香蕉视频直播淭hen you go out there and it香蕉视频直播檚 a chance for a few minutes just to reflect. It香蕉视频直播檚 always been part of the fabric since I can first remember and if they took it out, are they taking it out for the right reasons?香蕉视频直播�

Kypreos has always appreciated hearing both anthems before games.

香蕉视频直播淵ou never forget where you came from, where home is, family,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 always thought two anthems was the right thing to do.

香蕉视频直播淎gain, if it香蕉视频直播檚 one last chance just to calm things down before everything gets crazy at puck drop, I always appreciated it.香蕉视频直播�

Naraine said while other countries also play their anthems before games, it香蕉视频直播檚 usually reserved for playoff and international encounters or those played on important holidays.

香蕉视频直播淚n Australia with Australian Rules Football, each team has its own fight song and they play that as the team comes out on to the field,香蕉视频直播� Naraine said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 the same thing with American college football or some NFL teams where they play their fight songs.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 have that in hockey so we kind of adopted the national anthem.香蕉视频直播�

Harrison suggests Canada香蕉视频直播檚 anthem angst was fanned by Trump香蕉视频直播檚 earlier talk of making the country the U.S.香蕉视频直播檚 51st state.

香蕉视频直播淢any Canadians were really incensed by that,香蕉视频直播� Harrison said. 香蕉视频直播淪o how do you vent both your sense of pride but also to show the other side how angry you really are?

香蕉视频直播淪ports becomes the venue for that. It would be nice if people as individuals and teams just competed on some other kind of level but the intertwining of all of these things together probably makes that quite impossible.香蕉视频直播�

As for why anthems are such a hot-button topic, both academics agree: Sport is political.

香蕉视频直播淚t has become political because it香蕉视频直播檚 used by various actors for those political purposes,香蕉视频直播� Harrison said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen a shipyard opens and a ship is set for launch, there are those who want to be there for the photo opportunity.

香蕉视频直播淧oliticians also want to be there every time there香蕉视频直播檚 a sporting event even though they couldn香蕉视频直播檛 throw a football 10 yards 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 kind of a way of reflectively showing their patriotism but also connecting with the fanbase, many of whom view sports in a kind of hyper-sense as attached to their identity.香蕉视频直播�

Canadians are guilty of the latter, especially regarding the country香蕉视频直播檚 place on hockey香蕉视频直播檚 world stage. And at no time was Canada香蕉视频直播檚 identity more threatened than during the 香蕉视频直播�72 Summit Series versus the former Soviet Union.

香蕉视频直播淵ou think about the 1972 Canada-Russia series in the context of the Cold War,香蕉视频直播� Harrison said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is basically saying our system is better than yours and we produced better athletes and Canadians are incredibly proud of that moment, (Paul) Henderson and all that.

香蕉视频直播淲e can forgive many things, including Bobby Clarke香蕉视频直播檚 most horrible destruction of (Soviet star Valeri) Kharlamov香蕉视频直播檚 ankle (in Game 6) but it was like, 香蕉视频直播楾his is war,香蕉视频直播� and that香蕉视频直播檚 how people viewed it. We as fans, many of those sports are so attached to our sense of who we are, our sense of identity and so it香蕉视频直播檚 easy for politicians to also play on that.

香蕉视频直播淒onald Trump will go to the Super Bowl (Sunday) even though I don香蕉视频直播檛 think he gives a damn about it. But he香蕉视频直播檒l go because, 香蕉视频直播楳y folks love it.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��