Thursday, July 2nd, 2009...10:20 am
The Least Patriotic Moments in American Sports
The 4th of July is upon us, which means it’s time to celebrate our independence from our dry-witted cousins from across the pond. But it’s not just a time for enjoying our favorite American recreational activities like BBQing, fireworks and wearing American flag apparel. It’s also an opportunity to consider the things that make America awesome and how fortunate we are to have Ol’ Glory triumphantly waving over us. Last year the gang here at Pyle of List took a break from lowbrow humor (kind of) and recapped the most patriotic moments in sports.
This year, we’re switching it around and calling out the least patriotic moments in American sports history. These are the moments where people have disrespected the country or acted in a manner unbecoming of the US of A. This isn’t designed to be the authoritative list, just the moments that stick out in our minds. Please share yours in the comments.
USA Basketball (2002 World Championship & 2004 Olympics)
There are loads of folks to shoulder the blame for this one: the athletes that under-estimated the competition and played with very little heart, the guys that decided not to play, the coaches and the selection committee. No matter who you choose to single out, this was a low moment for the US, not because we lost but because nobody seemed to care all that much about representing their country.
Roseanne Barr’s “rendition” of the National Anthem
People singing the anthem poorly isn’t offensive. Someone intentionally butchering the anthem is not OK. Also, the person who booked Roseanne is just as liable for this moment as Roseanne herself. It was an early attempt at the Borat-style high comedy that we’ve come to love that flopped miserably. She probably would’ve been better off defacing the flag for laughs.
Giuseppe Rossi chooses Italy over USA
I know it’s soccer, but I imagine you could summon enough outrage about a traitor who decided to turn his back on America. Since soccer is a growing sport (here) in dire need of world-class talent, Rossi taking advantage of his dual citizenship to play for Italy despite growing up in the US is especially insulting. I’m not the most jingoistic person in the world, but Giuseppe brings out the worst in me. Traitor!
Inaugural World Baseball Classic
Although I’m tempted to put both WBC teams on here, the first was by far the worst. Didn’t we invent this game? Then how in the world did we lose to Canada (’Merica’s hat), Mexico (’Merica’s beard), Japan, and Korea? Plus, now it seems that having Clemens on the roster wasn’t such a hot idea. Clemens is the guy we brought to the world’s party who got too drunk and made a pass at the world’s underaged sister.
John Rocker’s Racist Tirade
We, as ‘Mericans, like to pride ourselves on living in the land of freedom and opportunity for ALL people. So when one of our atheletes goes off on how anyone who is not like him is wrong, it kind of makes us look bad. The icing on the racist cake was that he chose to single out the city of New York, whose Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty are great symbols of hope and freedom to all immigrants current, past, and future.
The Patriots turn out to be cheaters
After 9/11 we all thought it was the perfect testement of America that the underdog Patriots could rise above the power house Rams in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI. Later we found that the Pats have questionable, if not downright underhanded, ways of gaining the upper hand. (note: I’ve heard the “it didn’t give them an advantage” arguement and I just don’t believe you continuly break rules for no reason) Finding out how underhanded the Patriots could be has just sort of ruined one of the better moments in American Sports history.
Mahmound Abdul-Rauf
One of the deadliest long ball shooters in NBA history also had a strong stance as far as his opinions on America’s history. In 1996, Mahmoud refused to stand for the national anthem before games because he felt the U.S.’s history stood for tyranny and oppression. Mahmoud, formerly Chris Jackson, was born in the south so there’s no telling what he heard, witnessed, and experienced in his upbringing but there’s a certain level of respect one must show even in disagreement.
All of us here at Pyle of List want to take this opportunity thank our Armed Forces, both active and retired, for their sacrifice and contribution to the cause of freedom. Happy 4th of July!
31 Comments
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
We’re #1! We’re #1! We’re #1!
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Rossi left the US for Italy at the age of 13, long before he made his debut for them at any level of international competition. He most certainly didn’t play for Italy while living for the US, and even the most basic of fact-checking would prove this.
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 am
Abdul-Rauf seemed to tolerate America enough to receive/cash/spend his million-dollar paycheck
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 am
Shut up Ian, nobody cares about your stupid facts, it’s soccer….but seriously though, I hope you’re doing well and recovering nicely from the experimental surgery you went through to have your testicles removed
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
America Sucks!
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
Canada is not America’s hat….we’re America’s good sense
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
TG, what a brave statement. If you actually live here, don’t let the door slam on your ass on the way out.
God Bless America!!! Happy Independence Day!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
Win at all costs, thats the American Way!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Hey TG, then stay the heck out of it! We don’t need MORE of you sorry, American hating losers continually bashing us but having no problem at all accepting our money, jobs, goods, services and/or freedom(s) due in part to our way of thinking and working. Good riddance!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
How about stupid Tyrese changing the lyrics to the national anthem at staples center what a DOUCHE!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Spygate… a big deal for small minds.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
maybe your insult, “…I know it’s just soccer,” tells us all we need to know about why Rossi would play abroad. Unfortunately, no appreciation for soccer here in the US.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Gotta take a shot at the south huh?
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Ok, are you serious? The Patriots? “we found that the Pats have questionable, if not downright underhanded, ways of gaining the upper hand.” Please don’t allude to cheating for their first Super Bowl win…it was proven that the Spygate story was false (the writer who “broke” the story recanted). Aside from the fact that the whole Spygate “scandal” just highlighted the fact that ALL teams do what they can to get an upper hand…Tony Dungy echoed this, Herm Edwards did, Mike Shanahan did as well…Aside from the fact that the Pats had a Jets employee thrown out of their stadium for doing the same exact thing. To whoever penned this: that was VERY weak.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Thank you, Dan, I agree! Couldn’t put it better myself
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Wow. These are the so-called “least patriotic moments in American sports history”? The person/people who wrote this list must be under 10 years old and/or clueless.
The least patriotic moment in American sports history occurred in 1976 at Dodger Stadium when a couple of long haired, maggot infested, America-hating, pieces of human debris attempted (and failed) to ignite an American flag in the outfield of the ballpark.
Of course, this event also, ultimately, turned out to be the MOST patriotic moment in American sports history when Los Angeles Dodger Rick Monday saved the American flag from those America-hating pieces of sh!t. RIP Rick Monday.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Lets not forget the total douche Cassius Clay! On the Rocker bit, go back a reread his quotes from the article. He was describing what he saw on New York Subways. Anyone who has ridden them knows he was telling the truth.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Spare me the bs about Chris Jackson growing up in the South and what he heard, witnessed or experienced in his upbringing. I’ve spent years in the South and the north and I have seen and heard far more racist attitudes in the north. I generally enjoyed this column except for the incredibly stupid comment about the South. Maybe he would think differently if he grew up in a place of racial harmony like Boston, New York or L.A.
July 4th, 2009 at 4:27 am
What about the flag burning in the Wrigley Field outfield during the game?
July 4th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Who was that hack on the Olympic basketball team that said, “I don’t sing the national anthem because I’m black…” That deserves a spot on this list.
July 4th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Den - that would be Josh Howard … a fine individual indeed! Just another cynical _______ - you fill in the blank!
July 4th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
The Pats cheated for 7 years. Anybody who made a living working for or even reporting on the NFL followed the company line set forth by Goodell. The truth could never be allowed to be known. The integrity of the games & championships had been comprimised for those 7 years. It was actually the biggest scandal in sports history, toppong the “Black Sox” by far. That is exactly why it had to be covered up. I don’t care who says it had no effect. If it was effective, if there was no advantage gained, then why did the continue to do it for 7 YEARS. And what a coincidence that they happen to win 3 titles in that time. Stop kidding yourselves Pats fans, they cheated & that’s how they won.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Totally idiotic comment about Chris Jackson being raised in the South. Here in Mississippi he was loved as a high school player, and cheered by both black and white. At LSU, all Tigers, regardless of color, packed the PMAC to see him play. The only negatives aimed at him were from opposing teams, not because of his skin color, but because he absolutely killed with his quick jumper. Maybe his disloyalty stemmed from his conversion to the Nation of Islam - maybe not. Whatever the reason for his disloyalty, he never turned down the “good ole U.S. of A.” currency, did he?
July 4th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Roseanne should have been waterboarded.
Rick Monday is a hero. Tom, you rock…
July 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am
You really think the Pats cheated? Buy a clue! Remember when this all broke—on the MNF game that week there was a quick shot of the “approved observation” room for teams and they showed men with huge tele-photo lenses taking pictures?? What do you think they were taking pictures of—-cheereleader’s T—!? Belichick just did it on the field…like many other teams did and still do. That image was pulled quickly and it was never shown again. From the huge uproar of the story by the average, IGNORANT fan, the NFL could never let the truth out that all teams do it…..why do you think there used to be 3 men signalling in plays before headsets!?
July 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
It was actually 8 years.
And yes, they cheated. they admitted to it. There have been articles describing how other teams had been complaining for years about the Pats somehow knowing the defense they were calling and somehow calling the perfect offensive play for it.
Get over it Pats fans, your team has yet to actually truly win a Superbowl. Everybody who isn’t a Pats fan knows this, you all just seem to be blinded by homer-vision. And until you get rid of the cheating head coach, your team will continue to be tainted.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Tom
Rick Monday is not dead. He broadcast’s Dodger games with Charlie Steiner. He still talks about it occasionally.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I have lived in America all my life and I can safely say I’m sure there is not a worse piece of land on the planet. The kids nowadays are the stupidest, laziest piles of garbage ever and they represent this doomed country’s “future”. The girls are shallow idiots (Miss Teen South Carolina, anyone?), the men are anything but and the volunteer army isn’t very good at what they do anymore either. People are ruining the topography in every way imaginable, the economy blows and yet we’re bailing out the work force that builds horrible automobiles. U.S. auto workers are brainless turds. The teachers are selfish a-holes that do a terrible job, the firemen are stealing money by not doing anything all day, the cops are complete jerks, and lets not even get started on the “people” that don’t even work. I root for other people to detonate bombs in this country every day. I hate it here. And don’t give me that predictable “Well if you don’t like it, then leave it!” drivel. I can’t afford to, just like you couldn’t. So I’ll just stay here and celebrate the daily tragedies that occur, all the while hoping that a giant asteroid destroys this sh-tbag country in my lifetime so I can finally be happy.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Angry Jeff,
Wow, so much to respond to. It doesn’t cost anything to leave this country. if you really hate it that bad, you would do anything to get out. But no, you choose to utilize the precious free speech that this country, and the other “not very good volunteer army” personnel fought to preserve so people like you could spout off whenever they choose. Yes, this country has a ton of issues and problems, but what, if anything are you doing to help fix them? I guess blithering about them will make them go away. Lastly, if you can’t wait for someone to “detonate bombs” here, I suggest you go to a little area I was at, and they will be glad to assist you. My treat, no charge to you.
De Oppresso Liber
July 6th, 2009 at 6:01 am
What about Tommie Smith and John Carlos showing the Black Power salute in the 1968 Summer Olympics. We won’t mention that because we are too politically correct. That was total disrespect for our flag.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hey Age-nice,
Spoken like a true Raider/Chargers/Titans/Chiefs or whatever fan……your team can’t hit that championship level so it’s somebody else’s fault.
The Pats are the most watched team……watch what they do this year………..
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