I was at the game.
Yes, a good hunk of people in attendance Boo'd the Canadian national anthem, not the majority of people in attendance, but a good number just the same.
AnnMarie did a magnificent job holding her composure while singing the Canadian national anthem, but did appear to be a little flustered. She has a great voice and even sings the difficult US national anthem flawlessly.
Some Shark players (Canadian citizens) stated they were upset and unnerved by the folks booing their national anthem. However they did not say they were embarassed or upset about the same treatment of the US national anthem by their fellow countrymen two nights previous in Edmonton I that game on TV and there was clearly a disrespect for the US national anthem during it's playing that upset me as a member of the military to no end.
I have always defended Canada as a strong US ally, especially since many placed themselves at risk in 1979 by secreting US citizens in their embassy during the Iran Hostage ordeal. A few bad apples in Edmonton (and a bigger group in Montreal in 2003) booing my national anthem should not change my opinion, but coupled with Sharks players response to this incident, I now question it.
Sharks players should be more upset & unnerved with their dismal performance in the last three games against Edmonton then with Americans exercising their freedom of speech, under the US Constitution, even if that exercise of freedom was in my opinion low class.
Just as on the ice, the initial penalties are rarely called by the referees, but the retaliations always are. San Jose Shark fans are being sent to the sin bin under public & media scrutiny, while in this case the Edmonton Oilers fans started the disrespect.
The circus known as the media and local public officials seeking election to higher office are making more of the incident than it really is, wagging the dog as a smoke screen covering for the top seeded Sharks dismal performance blowing a lead, blowing a tied game and just plain blowing.
The Sharks are the folks that owe their fans an apology, got that Scotty, but then again, it's just a game.
Rant ops out.
