Will this election put an end to the GOP war against "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"?

[blitzen]

...because, I swear, if I have to watch another military cadet sing a crappy rendition of "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch ever again, I'll have to give up watching the World Series.

[Richardo]

1. This is the best thread subject of the entire election cycle

I salute you :patriot:


Enthusiastic K&R!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. I was just thinking the same thing...

A few more intelligence failures and a baseball game will be like an opera

[Unsane]

3. no kidding, i'm so sick of it

I understood the need to sing that song immediately following 9/11, but now? It's almost 2009. Give it a rest. I like to watch baseball to GET AWAY from politics, and I can't help but feel the 7th inning 'god bless USA' routine has political undertones.

[EastTennesseeDem]

4. I think there are two better reasons to not watch the World Series

And I'm a CARDINALS fan!

[GrizzlyMan]

10. I've always suspected Joe Buck of being a Repuke

And at the very least he is a no talent hack who has carved out a career in broadcast thanks to his last name. Without it, he'd be doing HS football in Bumblefuck, Arkansas.

[Voltaire]

29. You ain't lying there

I have to watch the series and listen to the Phillies home radio feed on the computer, satellite delay and all, because I cannot STAND these two.

Besides, its more fun to hear Harry Kalas scream STRUCK EEEM OWWWWT!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. and us "libruls" can now end our war on Christmas, too....

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

I am so tired of that war..

[Chrisnreno]

6. Totally agreed. I turn it off everytime they start that up.

It's 2009 now. Singing "God Bless America" at every post season game seems a little unnecessary this far along. "Take me out to the Ballgame" is really the only appropriate song for the 7th inning stretch. Any God-lovin' American knows that!

[Hardrada]

7. And will it mean the GOP fundie war on Halloween will cease?

I hope so.

[Blondiegrrl]

8. Whaaaaa ... they don't sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"? Since when?

I don't watch Major League Baseball. I do, however, occasionally attend minor league games. My hometown team still does TMOTTB during the seventh inning stretch.

[ieoeja]

27. They still sing it. But now they have to toss in a rendition of "God Bless America" as well.

At the games to which I have been, everyone stands and sings "Take Me Out..." then go for beers or just settle back in to their seats while largely ignoring "God Bless America". It really has become old.

[rocktivity]

9. I switched channels.

x(
rocknation

[GrizzlyMan]

11. Baseball shouldn't be political

And as a huge fan of the game I've resented the hell out of the shilling of jingoism from day one. We can thank that fuckwit George Steinbrenner.

[carnie_sf]

12. At Fenway

they play Sweet Caroline, which was written about Caroline Kennedy, who like Obama is Irish.

[MaineDem]

18. "Sweet Caroline" is in the eigth inning

Fenway does "God Bless America" at Sunday games, IIRC.

[carnie_sf]

22. My bad

I thought it was the seventh inning stretch

[slampoet]

13. It was started by the Yankees to Get their Pitchers more Rest time but now it's frikkin everywhere.

[Richardo]

14. The Astros have dropped "GBA" for a few years now...

We're back to the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Deep in the Heart of Texas" medley.




Really.

[jbond56]

28. sort-of

they still play GBA on sundays!

[Richardo]

30. Guess I haven't been to a Sunday game lately.

I'm really sorry to hear that.

[nichomachus]

15. Thank God -- I thought it was just me

between that and the players going through their "thank Jesus" gyrations every time they get a hit, I'm thinking of giving up baseball altogether. It's just getting too fascist for me.

I have to admit I almost puked during the World Series when they cut to a shot of Curt Schilling kneeling on the infield grass clutching a giant cross with his eyes looking upward -- like some martyr in a renaissance painting. Enough already.

I will believe that one of these players "owes it all to the lord," when they refuse a pay increase because it was all the lord's doing and not theirs.

[demokatgurrl]

33. Ryan Howard is a breath of fresh air in this respect

Not that I have any idea about his religious beliefs, or care, but it is so great to see him thump his chest (in an almost modest way) before he bats and after he does something great, rather than point to the sky. It's almost as though he's saying "I did that - not some supernatural power".

[Jersey Devil]

16. Been done at every game at Yankee Stadium since 9/11

Usually an abbreviated, recorded Kate Smith version and sung live by Ronan Tynan at special events. It bothers me too since I believe it has political overtones. 9/11 is over and though the people who died should never be forgotten it seems to me that their deaths are trivialized and not honored by having people stand up at a ballgame.

[Forkboy]

17. Why do we sing Take Me Out To The Ballgame when we're already there?

:shrug:

[Reader Rabbit]

19. Cubs still do "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

Harry Caray trumps the blivet.

[ncgrits]

21. So do the minor league Durham Bulls. nt

[Patiod]

20. Let's put "God Bless America" back where it belongs

At Flyers games, just as it was when it was their good-luck charm during the Broad Street Bullies era.

The recorded Kate Smith version.

Not necessary anywhere else.

[treestar]

23. Yeah!

A baseball game is supposed to be fun!

Go Phillies!!!!!

[ogneopasno]

24. This is the best thread I've seen in a long time. You're absolutely right. I HATE it when they

play that song at a baseball game. I sit down and sing these words:

Let's make America a land all can love.
Organize her, unionize her,
All our might to the fight on above!
From the railroads to the factories to the farmlands -- all our own!
We'll make America our own sweet home!
Let's make American our own sweet home!

[Blue_Tires]

25. [phone]

[Thorandmjolnir]

26. Glad to see I am not the only one.

I was wondering, is there any major professional sport where the pageantry surrounding the events do not involve the military?

[Javaman]

31. try living in texas...

every damn thing that is a public event regarding the most inane topic of the day has to have some sort of military guard attached to it.

[demokatgurrl]

32. GOD I hope so because if there is one song I cannot stand

it's freaking "God Bless America". Sorry to anyone that offends, and I'm probably the only person who feels that way. It seems to me that here in Philly they only play it on Sundays but I could be wrong.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

34. I'm not a baseball game goer, but do they play it even when the other team is Canadian?

If so, isn't that a bit gauche? Also, what is the correct etiquette for a non-US citizen attending a game during GBA... should I stand or can I sit down????