American national anthem at WSOP main event???

Masquerade · #1 09-17-2005, 10:24 PM

I'm about two months too late with this post, but is it really true that the Main Event of the World Series of Poker was started with a singing of the American national anthem?

It seems incredibly inappropriate for a supposedly international event (World != America) whatever country it's held in. And how did non-US participants react?

I don't like to go to other countries and behave in a manner to cause offence so I probably would've quietly slipped outside. But how +EV and tilt-inducing would it be to simply ignore everyone standing up singing and mutter anti-American slogans?

sirpupnyc · #2 09-17-2005, 10:41 PM

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It seems incredibly inappropriate for a supposedly international event

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Valid point. The rendition in question wasn't especially appropriate for any venue. (Phil Gordon included the whole thing in that day's podcast, for some reason.) I seem to recall the singer being someone of significance to the poker community...probably volunteered and no one had the good sense to turn her down. I imagine most of the offense would have been cancelled by the "banging your head against a brick wall" effect (it feels so good when you stop).

TonyS0pran0 · #3 09-17-2005, 10:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm about two months too late with this post, but is it really true that the Main Event of the World Series of Poker was started with a singing of the American national anthem?

It seems incredibly inappropriate for a supposedly international event (World != America) whatever country it's held in. And how did non-US participants react?

I don't like to go to other countries and behave in a manner to cause offence so I probably would've quietly slipped outside. But how +EV and tilt-inducing would it be to simply ignore everyone standing up singing and mutter anti-American slogans?

[/ QUOTE ]

How +EV would it be as you were carted off to the hospital after my big ass knocked all of your teeth out? You're in America, DEAL WITH IT!!! If I was in Canada I wouldn't care one bit standing up for a few minutes, whoopie.....

Masquerade · #4 09-17-2005, 11:32 PM

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How +EV would it be as you were carted off to the hospital after my big ass knocked all of your teeth out? You're in America, DEAL WITH IT!!! If I was in Canada I wouldn't care one bit standing up for a few minutes, whoopie.....

[/ QUOTE ]

See? You're on tilt already after just reading a post. When I'm prancing around outside the tournament hall, wearing my OBL mask, burning the Stars and Stripes, and waving placards condemning the US I'm going to have 95% of players desperate to bust me. It's probably a good way to get an insight of what it feels like to be Hellmuth.

Relax. I wasnt being serious. I like visiting America and I already said that I'm naturally a polite person who wouldnt dream of deliberately causing offence. BUT I still don't like the principle of a national anthem being sung [I didnt know it was some famous singer leading it] at a supposedly international event. If I'd visited a domestic sports (or any other) event and the national anthem had been sung I wouldnt have the slightest problem in standing up and mouthing some words anonymously. I'll even wave a little flag if you like.

I was just hypothetically musing that IF someone had the balls to refuse to go along with it at the WSOP they could possibly gain an edge.

MyMindIsGoing · #5 09-18-2005, 03:57 AM

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How +EV would it be as you were carted off to the hospital after my big ass knocked all of your teeth out? You're in America, DEAL WITH IT!!!

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You seem very american yes.

#6 09-20-2005, 10:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm about two months too late with this post, but is it really true that the Main Event of the World Series of Poker was started with a singing of the American national anthem?

It seems incredibly inappropriate for a supposedly international event (World != America) whatever country it's held in. And how did non-US participants react?

I don't like to go to other countries and behave in a manner to cause offence so I probably would've quietly slipped outside. But how +EV and tilt-inducing would it be to simply ignore everyone standing up singing and mutter anti-American slogans?

[/ QUOTE ]

How +EV would it be as you were carted off to the hospital after my big ass knocked all of your teeth out? You're in America, DEAL WITH IT!!! If I was in Canada I wouldn't care one bit standing up for a few minutes, whoopie.....

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree whole heartedly! Everyone is talking about how Poker deserves to be treated more like other events etc. Traditionally during sporting events (I am not going to debate whether poker is a sport) the National Anthem of the host country is sung.

Unless they have recently moved Las Vegas to another country and not informed me, it is held in the USA, so if and I say if a National Anthem is going to be sung then is should be ours and not say Australia's for Joe Hachem.

What's the big deal? If you go to say Paris for the WPT and they want to sing the French National Anthem, I certainly would not be offended.

#7 09-20-2005, 11:17 AM

To a European watching American patriotism is like watching your parents kiss. I'm sure many are physically sick.

Just because an event is at X, doesn't mean the X national anthem should be played. Honestly it would be like Greece playing their national anthem before every event at the olympics. I can assure you they did not. It is crass, it is unnecessary, it's the American way.

#8 09-20-2005, 01:05 PM

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To a European watching American patriotism is like watching your parents kiss. I'm sure many are physically sick.

Just because an event is at X, doesn't mean the X national anthem should be played. Honestly it would be like Greece playing their national anthem before every event at the olympics. I can assure you they did not. It is crass, it is unnecessary, it's the American way.

[/ QUOTE ]

So by your example, does this mean that we should stop singing the National Anthem at Baseball games, because some French, or Indonesian, or Japanese people attending the game might be offended?

If I am in another country and I am at an event and they play their National Anthem, not only will I NOT be offended, I will respect them, their country and their Anthem.

I have had the good fortune in the past to travel to other countries, including Japan, and China and I have tried very hard when in their countries to change some of my ways to conform to their country out of a sense of respect.

I don't see any problem whatsoever with our country playing our National Anthem in our country.

I will add that I am a Naturalized Citizen on the US and was not born here but am very proud to call myself an American.

mackthefork · #9 09-22-2005, 05:04 AM

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So by your example, does this mean that we should stop singing the National Anthem at Baseball games, because some French, or Indonesian, or Japanese people attending the game might be offended?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not because of any of those things, the reason is there are two US teams playing, no need for an anthem.

If England played France at football in London, then we would play both anthems, it makes sense, all or none.

Mack

Quicksilvre · #10 09-20-2005, 01:18 PM

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It is crass, it is unnecessary, it's the American way.

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I must disagree. It's simply a tradition in the US, one ingrained enough that, if the Greeks had played their national anthem before every event, no American would be offended. It's not nationalistic propaganda (which some people seem to think it is), it's just standard operating procedure.