"What are you a Commie?"

I am quite American and I have the background to prove it. As the saying goes, I was born in the Midwest, where the real Americans live. I traveled through the ranks of Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and earned my Eagle rank. I drive American cars, always under the belief that not only are they the best but to also support our economy. I hate it when Americans burn our flag in protest. When the national anthem is played I always put my hand over my heart, even if I'm wearing a cap (which I set on my seat). Though I hate the playing of God Bless America during baseball games. My co-poster, Matt was ripped for that on the John DiTullio Show last week for saying that and you can't blame him for that position.

We live in a post-9/11 world. If you don't wear your patriotism on your sleeve, your an ungrateful America. Forget about Nixon/McCarthy and the blacklist, it's all about overflowing your pride for America. That song is just another problem with professional sports these days.

Televised games are killing the fan base for the national game.

"The game is too slow."

"It's boring!"

Baseball games would not be as boring if they didn't have about a million commercials jammed in along with rein statements of citizenship during the latter stages of the contest.

It's one thing to have the playing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh, that's a quick song that the pitcher can warm up to. A pitcher throwing during "God Bless" would be hung by the stadium rafters. Overly patriotic fans holding bats posing as torches and rakes would charge the mound.

Getting in the zone is key in any sport. A lack of focus or a sojourn from that especially during the 8th inning could lead to a win or a loss. That statement is true on all levels be it high school, college and the pros. I even asked players on the summer college team I announce and getting into the mindset is crucial to success.

We sing our national anthem at the beginning of the game. That's how it works in the Olympics, you only hear your anthem when you win, no other song is played. Every stadium has an American flag. Baseball is our country's national pastime. As Americans we need to understand that not all of us need to keep reminding of the public for the world we live in after a terrorist attack. We jumped on our future President for not wearing a silly lapel pin.

People argue that the song should be sung because of our boys in the Middle East. That's all fine and dandy, but you go to any baseball game and the jumbo-tron always shows photos of local soldiers doing their part. We hand out ribbons to "support our troops" to be placed on car doors. At churches, at least in Catholic churches they mention prayers for soldiers who belong to the Parrish.

If we remove this one song, will that truly diminish our patriotism. I can certainly believe we can do without it and here's why.

Baseball is not only a national pastime, but also a billion dollar business. Players' careers are the basis of the game and they need to perform at top levels to not only try to beat records and win titles but also to help keep the game at the highest level possible. Are we willing to damage that just so that every single fan and player stand at forced attention to a song, being sung on the basis that if you don't play it, you're un-American?

Don't past judgement on the stance against the song and just remember that we still play our national anthem at the start of a game.

ROC SPORTS NET 2009