It was the opening night of the NFL season, and you might think everyone was just thrilled to watch some good old-fashioned football, right? Wrong! Instead, the big showdown between the Cowboys and the Eagles turned into a spectacle of sorts—complete with a side of controversy. Now add in the fact that the Black national anthem got its time in the spotlight, and it seems like the only thing louder than the singing was the deafening silence from the audience. And boy, did NBC pick the right moment to show the crowd’s indifference. It was like watching a friend try to impress their crush while everyone else in the room is just there for the nachos.
So let’s break it down. Here we have a big NFL event—the air is electric, the nachos are flowing, and yet somehow, the spotlight shifted from the game to the question of why the Black national anthem was even being sung. The singer had a voice that could send shivers down your spine, yet the only thing getting the crowd riled up was the impending touchdown. It’s almost like people were sitting there thinking, “I came for football, not a choir practice.” Meanwhile, the cameras cut to a group of fans who looked like they’d rather be watching paint dry than engage with this newfound musical interlude. NBC must’ve been thrilled, capturing the most riveting display of collective disinterest since the last time somebody tried to share their vacation slides—awkward!
As the crowd’s reaction—or lack thereof—blurred on their screens, it raised a question: what are we supposed to do during the Black national anthem? Should everyone awkwardly tap their feet, pretend like they’re really into it, or just sit there with a dazed look on their face? It’s tough enough trying to explain these cultural moments to your friends without them looking at you like you’re the one who came up with the idea. And with a stadium full of people, you could almost hear their brains collectively thinking, “Is this really necessary?” It’s like trying to throw a surprise party for someone who already hates surprises; just a level of awkward that nobody needed.
Now, the usual talk about unity and respect comes into play. Some folks claim they’re standing up for something much larger with these performances, but when you watch the crowd barely pay attention, you have to wonder if the message is getting lost somewhere in that brick of nachos. Most football fans aren’t typically trying to make political statements—they’re just there to witness a fantastic tackle or a last-second field goal. When even the visual cues show more cringing than celebration, you start to wonder if the strategy backfired louder than a bad referee call.
If nothing else, this event proved that football isn’t just a sport; it’s practically a cultural battleground. Surprisingly, in a nation known for its love of the national anthem, there seems to be a bit of confusion on what exactly that anthem is supposed to represent. As folks in the stands tried to navigate their feelings about it while balancing their drinks and snacks, it was clear that the only thing missing from the moment was a friendly game of “guess that anthem.” Maybe we just need to agree that we can all come together to appreciate a good game without turning it into an intense social critique.
So here’s an idea: how about we keep the national anthem—whatever it may be—before the game and focus on what brings us together? That adrenaline-pumping, hard-hitting football that deserves every ounce of our attention! Next time, let’s leave the anthems for a quieter venue, and let the NFL do what it does best: entertain us while we yell at the TV, forget our problems, and cheer for our favorite teams—packed with hotdogs, beer, and zero judgment from the couch. Now that sounds like a game day worth celebrating!
