And the Rocket’s red glare

ESPN today reported on the chants of ‘USA’ that rang around Citizens bank Park as word spread of Osama Bin laden’s death. Hoards of people gathered outside the White House, and at Ground Zero in a moment of celebration and solidarity. A nation that still grieves for those they lost so horrifically almost ten years’ ago, had a moment of respite.

America is a very proud nation, and nothing demonstrates that more, than the pageantry that takes place before major sporting events. Where the UK saves their national anthem for cup finals, the USA and Canada celebrate their nations before every game. Those that follow the NHL will know that both the Canadian and the American national anthems are sung, at games between sides from each of the countries.

Children pledge their allegiance at school in the United States, and grow up in a nation that is proud to wave its’ flag. A practice that is reserved in the UK for events such as that we saw on Friday, when William and Kate were married. Unfortunately, being proud of being British is often misconstrued as being bigoted. Yes, there are many that stand behind the flag in the name of racism, but that is because they have been allowed to claim the flag as their own, as nobody else in the UK was waving it regularly. The US didn’t rest on their laurels and let minorities claim the flag. They proudly proclaim every day, their pride in their country.

Such pomp and circumstance is difficult to understand, and there are many critics of what is perceived as a brash, unnatural and overzealous proclamation. It could though be a product of insecurity. Like any belief, the fear of losing it, leads to a need to pronounce it. America may be a Superpower, but it is and has been under threat. Don’t mistake an inherent fear, for an inherent arrogance. Before making any reactionary criticism of the outpouring and the celebrations on the streets of New York and elsewhere, try to understand how the human condition is playing out here.

If the Knicks and the Rangers had put up a better fight, we would surely see even more of a celebration in the playoffs currently underway in both the NBA and the NHL. Sports’ writers are debating which of these competitions are more exciting, as we watch an eighth seed take down a first seed in the NBA, and we see Canada fighting back from the brink through the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. Not wanting to offensively blur the line between Canada and the USA in this feature, as UK fans we say thank you to both nations for giving us the sports we love so much. And to the United States we acknowledge, that today is the first day of the rest of the playoffs. Enjoy!