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Recently, some Virginia Tech students have voiced "outrage" over their classmates yelling "Oh!" during the national anthem.
In a recent rant about the tradition on these pages, a letter to the editor stated that "Baltimore Orioles fans feel the need to interject their support for their annually terrible baseball team" by engaging in the tradition.
Indeed, the yelling of "Oh!" dates back to the 1970s when well-known Orioles fan Wild Bill Hagy began the ritual before every game. Believe it or not, back then the franchise was not "annually terrible," but a World-Series-winning franchise. Despite this, the fact that the Orioles have had 10 straight losing seasons and are likely on their way to number 11 has nothing to do with whether or not fans should be able to yell "Oh!"
Basically, when sports fans encounter something that they are not used to -- or perhaps a custom that they are not a part of -- they react with feigned outrage in an attempt to denigrate other fans. It all comes back to the rivalry and pageantry of sports.
Because some Tech fans are not familiar with the practice, they want no part of it. This is a basic concept of the psychology of a sports fan. In fact, because many Tech students are residents of Northern Virginia, they also may be fans of the Washington, D.C., sports teams. And because of this, there is a clear rivalry between D.C. and Baltimore sports fans based on the proximity of the two cities.
For example, at Washington Wizards and Capitals games, many fans yell "Oh!" during the national anthem. Because D.C. was without a baseball team until recently, the Orioles were the only team around, and many Washington-area residents adopted the Orioles as their team. In fact, the Washington Redskins (who play in Landover, Md.) see the tradition carried out at their games.
Perhaps the place where the chant is most prevalent may not be at Orioles games at all. In a stadium that seats just over 70,000, Baltimore Ravens fans yell out in full force during the anthem.
However, these sporting events will always have fans who find the "Oh!" to be "disrespectful." But in truth, no one is really outraged over the yell. The argument stems from an underlying rivalry among sports fans that makes people reject traditions that are foreign to them.
So what is inappropriate in observing the national anthem? This, of course, is completely subjective.
When Canadian fans boo during the American national anthem at a Toronto Blue Jays game, most would agree that this is tasteless.
But when customs are observed not to disparage the U.S. but to support a sports team, the subject becomes unclear.
At Chicago Blackhawks games, the fans have a tradition of yelling and cheering throughout the entire national anthem. Is this offensive? If you're not a Blackhawks fan, then it might be. If you are, then of course it isn't.
Atlanta Braves fans sometimes yell "Braves" as it is the last word of the anthem. Is this in poor taste? Maybe, but because it is at the very end of the song when fans start cheering early anyway, then it might be acceptable.
The point here is that no one is really gravely outraged over any of these customs, because none of them are meant to disrespect the national anthem. People express their displeasure because they are rabid sports fans and reject sports traditions that aren't their own.
Without a doubt, everyone has the right to be offended about anything that makes him or her mad in our politically correct society. Anyone else has the right to engage in sports traditions that bring fans together and represent their teams wherever they may be.
Assuredly, people will continue to fake their fury over the "Oh!" during the national anthem purely because they aren't Orioles fans. If Tech had a similar custom, these same people would be defending it with all of their energy.
We may never hear an end to this argument over what constitutes sports tradition versus condescension toward our country. As for me, I'll be yelling "Oh!" during the national anthem louder than ever before -- because that's what a true sports fan would do.
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Let me offer an example of where your argument breaks down. I am an Orioles fan, and I am very familiar with the origins of the cheer, yet I still believe it is disrespectful. For me, it has nothing to do with rivalries and everything to do with etiquette. While we're on the topic of tradition, here's another: when the anthem begins, people stand up and shut up. Gentlemen remove their caps and place their hands on their hearts. That one's been going on for far longer than the Orioles cheer.
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Baltimore is in Maryland, Blacksurg is in Virginia.
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Can we shut up about this petty subject (yes, I know I read this article with my free will)? There are probably larger issues that should be debated, maybe the fact that we have been at war for over five years, with no end in site. Try saying “at war†out loud; it’s a pretty big and important concept to grasp. Some may argue that this war is disgracing our nation more than a cheer during the national anthem. What about the housing market or the economy, and lets not forget about the environment. I say debate and express your opinion on these subjects, not a petty cheer. But, please do not go back to the VT parking debate. Thank you.
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"in truth, no one is really outraged over the yell." I hate to burst your bubble but I am truthfully incensed about it and it has nothing do to with sports. It’s because you and your ilk can’t be respectful when the Anthem is played. Guess what? They aren’t playing it for the Orioles, they’re playing it to honor the nation. You can’t seem to be bothered to do so. You talk about tradition but you seem not to know it yourself. The playing of the Star Spangled Banner at baseball games goes back at least to World War I when it was played as a patriotic gesture. There’s a reason that Tech doesn’t have a similar custom, and I suggest you go over to the War Memorial Chapel or the pylons and check them out. If you feel the need to be disrespectful to the Anthem go to Camden Yards to do it. It has no place at Tech.
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This is one of the most judgmental and arrogant letters I have seen. You assumed things from the beginning to the end. It is so arrogant to think that just b/c it's done @ Orioles games and so many Tech students come from Northern VA it's appropriate to do in Blacksburg. THIS IS BLACKSBURG NOT BALTIMORE! (Thank God)
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It has nothing to do with sports, the Orioles, or rivalries...bottom line is it is disrespectful to the national anthem. The Star Spangled Banner wasn't written to honor a Baltimore Orioles baseball game...it was written to honor our country. To yell "Oh" or cheer throughout is simply disrespectful.
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The Star Spangled Banner was written in memory of the brave men of BALTIMORE who defended Fort McHenry. It is written about something that happened here in Baltimore. If we choose to honor it in our own way then that is our right. I dont care what people from Blacksburg think, it was written by a BALTIMORE lawyer in the harbor in BALTIMORE to represent the people of BALTIMORE who fought bravely. So dont be mad when people from Baltimore so "O" even it is started from representing the Baltimore Orioles, its now just something everyone in Baltimore grows up doing. Its part of our history just like the Star Spangled Banner being part of our history.
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Who are you kidding? "society is headed down the crapper" because of the national anthem?? I bet during the Vietnam War there were much worse things happening to our anthem and our flag. Our generation can still improve but we are not destroying the world as the media would have you believe. Stop watching so much tv. Same stuff happens every generation, just the customs change.
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Thank you for "teaching" me all about this "wonderful tradition." Clearly, neither I nor anybody else understood that it's a tradition at Baltimore Orioles baseball games. So THAT's where it came from! Obviously now that I know that, I can see why it would have a place at Virginia Tech. Forgive us. We're just poor uneducated souls.
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In Charlottesville they yeah HOOS! something that has relevance to who they are and they sound retarded. At Virginia Tech you yell OH!!!...no relevance to anything Hokie...and sound retarded...see what I'm getting at?
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Read the poem - the word is 'whose.' The fact that the (abbreviated) term for a UVA fan is a homonym with the word in the poem doesn't lend it any extra credibility either.
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Wow, I've written about everything from the war to the economy to the presidential election--and I haven't been shy with stating my opinion--but I've never seen people overreact to something more than this. It's amazing what issues people get "outraged" over and what they really care about. I guess it goes to show just how good we have it in the U.S. Believe me, I would never want to disrespect my country or my national anthem. But you people seem to think that's exactly what I want to do. It's amazing that Orioles fans just do this as a fun thing to show camaraderie wherever they are, but people take it the wrong way. It's funny how it's perfectly fine for you guys that it happens at Camden Yards, but at Tech sporting events it's all of the sudden disrespectful to the anthem. Everybody gets offended by the smallest things nowadays, and people just need to lighten up.
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And yet you managed to get a number of remarks removed, none of which seem to have violated the board postings criteria. It's disrespectful no matter where you do it, but if you do it at Camden I don't have to hear it. Yelling over the anthem does disrespect it even if you are just "showing camaraderie." I'm not "outraged." I'm outraged. Grow up Dan.
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I didn't remove any remarks. It seems that someone else found them offensive. I don't do that. But if you're that concerned then maybe you should start a movement to have everything dead silent when the anthem is played anywhere--not just when you're present.
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Honestly, Dan, I think that's the way to do things. The playing of the national anthem is an act of homage and respect for the nation of which we are grateful to be citizens. It isn't a time for hob-knobbery or other idiotic shenanigans designed specifically to draw attention away from why we have the anthem in the first place. Now, I can't help it if you or anyone else doesn't have pride in our nation - but I can still be offended when people don't respect the opinions of those who DO have a profound respect for our nation. That's why ludicrous outbursts of "oh" and "hoos" and the like are so offensive - they make a deliberate mockery of a serious and important part of our culture. IF all people want to do is mock the anthem, it's better off being left out of the games entirely.
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I don't think he has to start a movement, as most people already understand that one is supposed to be silent when the Anthem is played. In a lot of major league ballparks I've visited, concession sales halt during the Anthem for that very reason. The public address announcer says, "Please rise as we honor America by playing the National Anthem" not "Please rise as we honor the Baltimore Orioles…" Federal law even provides for appropriate behavior, although being America it says "should" not "must" (Thankfully – being a boor isn't illegal). Not content to disgrace the Anthem yourself – which is your right – you feel a need to justify your behavior and accuse anyone who, in your eyes "claims" to be offended, of overreacting. You accuse us of pretending to be outraged. Did it every occur to you that hundreds of thousands of your fellow Americans sacrifice a great deal for what that Anthem stands for? Is it too much to ask for you to keep your yap shut as the majority of the people in the stadium want to show their respect? Evidently so, as you end your editorial by basically saying, "Offended? Tough! I'm doing it anyway!"
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Being silent, removing your hat, and placing your right hand over your heart during the Anthem is a tradition that far outweighs any other tradition of any sports team, period. The Anthem has been around far longer than any of these teams have. The time when it is played is really the one moment when both teams are united under the same banner, agreeing to play a fair game in this country where they are free to do so. We may have separate teams, but we are ALL Americans. Any words coming out of your mouth during the national anthem other than the words of the anthem itself is utter disrespect and I want to slam 18 layers of duct tape over the mouth of anyone yelling "Oh!" or any other such nonsense during the national anthem. It's a time for everyone to be united under the same banner, like I said - namely our flag. Shouting anything in support of your team disrespects the opponent and that's not what the anthem is about - because we are all in the SAME COUNTRY. Do you understand?
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Since my previous comment was deleted for whatever odd reason I'll sugar coat it. Unless your singing along to the anthem then shut the **** up. I can't believe you're surprised at how much more outrage you've gotten for this. The anthem is our pride and your arrogant, assumption filled article is just insulting to 90% of the student body. According to you if I yelled,"I hate the effing USA" during the anthem because I'm a (Insert team name) fan then people would only be fake mad at me because they just don't understand my teams tradition? HA HA HA
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hahaha we'll still keep doing it no matter what u guys say
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Hey, guy who posted at 12:33am who so drunk he forgot to leave a name - go right ahead. Once you grow up you might realize that what you’re doing serves no purpose but to anger people. This is your right as an American, of course, but most adults reserve this for constructive dialog. No one can make you be respectful to your fellow man and you are allowed to be as adolescent as you wanna be. I wouldn’t leave your room, though, or you might miss that phone call from the Jerry Springer people.
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I assure you my fury over this is not fake. Please consider that some are truly offended by your actions. I am one of them whether you believe me or not.
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its not disrespectful to yell "o" during the national anthem. its a baltimore tradition, and it IS a way to show camaraderie. get over yourselves people, "o" to baltimore is the same as a terrible towel to pittsburgh or "red" to the capitals. Its not disrespectful. its just a tradition.
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Totally inappropriate. Our nation's tradition > your crappy baseball team's tradition. SORRY.
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