that such a big deal is being made about this. If you don’t like it, then don’t do it, but don’t begrudge someone who does. It is their right that all veterans have served to protect, and while you may not agree with it, you have to respect their right. I’ve honestly not met a single person that was in/is in the military that had a problem with the yelling of “Stars” during the anthem.

It’s not some arbitrary word being yelled to draw attention away from the anthem, it’s a way for fans of a team to get pumped up and feel more connected to the anthem and our team. I mean, it’s a fairly obvious connection that I think is quite easy to grasp. I love that tradition, along with the random guy yelling during the silence before the last few lines of the song; it always seems to start the crowd’s rumbling cheers to build into a thunderous ovation.

And Texans definitely have a greater respect for their military, especially considering Texas contributes the most military recruits of any state in our country.

(Hello. First-time poster and former Dallas resident/Stars season ticket holder. Still a fan in exile amongst the Ducks and Kings.)

I personally don’t have a problem with it. Having attended many O’s games while attending college in Baltimore, I was already acclimated to the random insertion of team pride into the anthem. And given the song’s original origin as an English drinking song, I don’t think adding a bit of local flair to it detracts. I might feel differently if a different and more historically reverential patriotic song, like “God Bless America,” was similarly interrupted by such a cheer.

I do have objections to the insertion of negative and derogatory cheers during the anthem, though, like yelling “Red Wings Suck!” over “rocket’s red glare,” as mentioned in the OP.

I go back and forth about how I feel about it. On one hand, I think it’s a fun Dallas tradition that was started without any intention to offend or disparage. So, we can be relatively assured that the first few people who did this, weren’t doing it with any malice in their heart toward the National Anthem. And, I can still remember my first few Stars games, and the chills I got hearing 17,001+ people (at Reunion) yelling “Stars!” at the same time.

However, I can also see the flip side of it. The National Anthem is a song that is treated with reverence in most countries. And any singing or yelling done during the song, is of the correct lyrics themselves, and all of them. If you’ve seen a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast and watched the Canadian National Anthem sung, it is done by nearly all in attendance, and no one is yelling one lyric louder than another to support their team.

After 9/11, I remember wondering how this would be done at the AAC. I caught several games there that year, and I remember there were nearly NO “Stars” chants…it’s because, for everyone, the National Anthem too on new meaning after 9/11. Now, with all things, memories fade and things become less painful…and it became easier to resume the tradition. But, was it right?

Also – the Allen Americans, who are the Dallas Stars CHL affiliate up in Allen, TX, started play this year. During the National Anthem there, I always hear a few people yell out “Stars” at the usual spots. Now, there aren’t many….probably 20 or 30 I’d guess, out of the 4,000-5,000 in attendance…but it can be heard. Is that appropriate? I mean…it’s not the Stars playing. But, on the other hand, they are an affiliate team. Thoughts on this….?

And, what if the Stars play at other venues? Is it just as appropriate to go to Phoenix on a road trip to catch a Stars game and yell it out there? Or, should it remain an AAC tradition?

As I said, I go back and forth on the subject…on one hand, it’s a fun Stars tradition, and one that is meant with good spirits. And, on the other, it is taking the National Anthem of our country and turning it into a team rally song. So…I guess I’ll have to read some more feedback, and see what others feel to see if I can be swayed further one way or another.

I hit post, and then thought I’d ask….does anyone go to Texas Stars games? If so, do they carry on the same tradition there in Cedar Park?

At my alma matter our mascot was the mustang, so every national anthem ended with “…and the home of the MUSTANGS”. In my junior year as the stars began thier march to the conference finals, my friends and I began a new “tradition” of yelling stars during the national anthem. We did it for our love for the team.

I don’t have a problem with it.

It’s not flag-burning, it’s not like we’re not standing and have our hats on and our hands aren’t over our hearts when we do it. And like Brad said, we always stand and salute the soldiers in the first intermission. This is just a fun, creative way we support our team, and I personally love it.

To me, this ‘controversy’ is the media making much ado about nothing…..

lopsided than I though it would be…

of going to watch a Stars game home or away. There was one time though I think in ‘08 in Anaheim I pretty much yelled “Stars”(got the attention of both benches and everyone else in Honda Center) and the second time “Stars” came around they booed. Times after that I don’t really notice if they boo or not. Maybe I got a little too loud that one time but hey, it’s not like I’m going out of my way to say something outside of the actual words of the National Anthem.

When I went to my first Stars game, and heard the fans yell out STARS each time ‘star’ came up in the national anthem, I was a bit offended. I saw my army soldier brother react the same way when I brought him for the first time.

I have come to accept the tradition now, and I even yell RED during the ‘red glare’ part of the song on those rare occasions when the Red Wings come to town.

The tradition put forth by Blackhawk fans was started during a playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers in the 80’s. It didn’t really gain notoriety nationwide until the 1991 NHL All Star Game was played there just three days after Operation Desert Storm was launched.

And as luck would have it, the game was televised on NBC. I’ll never forget the pride I felt watching Wayne Messmer sing the anthem with 20,000 raucous Blackhawk fans providing the background vocals that day…and then seeing it replayed all over the news later that night.

I’ve never had a problem with the shouting of “STARS!”, either. There’s no disrespect meant by either team’s fans. And as you pointed out, Brad, the first commercial break of EVERY home game is punctuated by an announcement by Celina Rae of a serviceman or servicewoman in attendance at the game and the accompanying standing ovation from the crowd and stick banging by both benches.

watching that chicago video again. i really see no harm. you’re supporting your country and your team. as long as no one boos the other team’s anthem. i really like the canadian one, too, but not as much after losing to them in the gold medal game haha.

i’ve never been to a stars home game (live in CT and CA), but i think that would be really fun to yell STARS! during the anthem. it seems pretty harmless to me. both of my grandfathers, my father and his two brothers, and one of my cousins have all served. i don’t feel like i’m disrespecting them, and neither do they.

Someone always has to have something to bitch about.

I mean yelling Stars! is 100X worse than the playoff series between American and Canadian teams where fans boo other countries anthems. Or how about the people that don’t even stand during the anthem because (I heard this earlier in the year) they don’t want to set down their food. Yes, let’s complain about this first.

I’m not so sure about changing the words, but I think “Stars!” is great. I went with some friends last month and I joked that we could go home after the national anthem was over.

It’s unique and the Dallas Stars way. We’re not disrespecting the military…we’re showing support for our team.

Also, the Stars are very classy when it comes to honoring the military. It’s not as though we’re snubbing them or anything.