Mark Cuban Takes Stand on National Anthem: Unchecked

Mark Cuban's decision not to play the national anthem before Dallas Mavericks games makes a lot of sense.

You know how I know the Dallas Mavericks deciding not to play the national anthem before games isn’t actually a big deal? Because no one noticed until just now. 

Mark Cuban decided before the season the Mavericks would no longer play the national anthem, and it hasn't been before any of the team's 13 home games.

It's the first instance we know of a pro sports team striking the U.S. anthem from the pre-game. https://t.co/VaReFVCu4U

— tim cato (@tim_cato) February 10, 2021

The team hasn’t played it before any games thus far this season and Mark Cuban confirmed they do not plan to resume doing so, which I think is a good decision. At this point, when I hope we can be entering less divisive times, I don’t believe anything productive comes from arguing about what others choose to do during the anthem.

Dear @mcuban. Don’t read your mentions, don’t pay attention to social media, don’t back down.

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) February 10, 2021

If you want to stand with pride and your hand on your heart...cool. If you want to kneel in protest...cool. If you want to do neither...cool. Let’s be real, a bunch of people just got done placing bets on the over/under on the song’s duration at the Super Bowl.

Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan's #SuperBowl national anthem length blew past the over/under betting line#SuperBowlLV https://t.co/7cmDMbGaj5 pic.twitter.com/qRLXddlSCy

— TheWrap (@TheWrap) February 7, 2021

Now I get the lack of fans may have made this a little easier to pull off under the radar, but not playing the national anthem before events isn’t exactly unprecedented. I don’t recall it being played before going to dinner, or the movies, or a concert, or when reporting to work.

Been saying this for the longest!! Thank you! Also appreciate you taking the first step @mcuban https://t.co/hcYdjQooB8

— τobias Harris (@tobias31) February 10, 2021

Why should sports be any different? And is it really patriotism if you’re forced to do it? I understand there will be some reactions today, like this one, given it is in the news and has been a highly debated topic since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee.

But personally, I respect the move from Cuban. I hope it shows, as it has thus far with the Mavs, that it won’t be missed before games. And will eventually lead to fans being more united when they stand.