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When you go to a sporting event, what do you think about when the national anthem is played? Do you feel patriotic? Do you feel thankful? Do you think of those serving in the military? Do you think of the War of 1812 and the bombing of Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen his lyrics?Do you even know where Fort McHenry was located? Did you even know Francis Scott Key is the author of the Star-Spangled Banner? Do you know who we fought in the War of 1812? Did you know the actual music to the song was adapted from a British song? Does any of this matter?Until a few weeks ago, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled before the anthem at a football game to protest racial injustice in this country, none of that did matter much. We stood, we took off our hats, we contemplated what to order at the concession stand or why Terry Collins would take out Addison Reed for Josh Smoker.That all changed. Suddenly, the anthem means ... something. It has become another way to further divide this country, symbolic, in some fashion, of this entire political season. There seems to be little room for discussion or nuance: Youre either with Kaepernick and others who have followed his lead across different sports, or youre against.Against this background, there was a silly little stunt on Wednesday afternoon following the anthem at the Cardinals-Rockies game in Denver. Cardinals outfielder Jose Martinez and Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez had a post-anthem standoff. To what means and point? I have no idea, though I seem to remember this happening earlier this season in another game. As their teammates dispersed to get ready for the game, Martinez and Estevez remained in front of their dugouts, standing like the Queens Guard in front of Buckingham Palace. At one point, Estevez donned a catchers mask, I guess in case the game started.The delay lasted long enough that the umpires had to tell the managers to get their players off the field.Look, Im sure the two rookies thought they were just having fun. Maybe Martinez, from Venezuela, and Estevez, from the Dominican Republic, were feeling especially appreciative on this night to play major league baseball.Even if that were the case, this is not the time for such behavior. Kaepernick says he has received death threats as a result of his protest. Charlotte was burning. Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman had spoken earlier in the day about how players are being misunderstood. I think you have players that are trying to take a stand and trying to be aware of social issues and try to make a stand and increase peoples awareness and put a spotlight on it, and theyre being ignored, he said. Whether theyre taking a knee or whether theyre locking arms, theyre trying to bring people together and unite them for a cause.In the middle of all this, of an issue of vital importance, we get this ridiculousness at a baseball game.I dont mean to sound so harsh. Im sure Martinez and Estevez had good intentions. But that gets to the bigger picture: Maybe its time to stop playing the anthem before sporting events. What impact does the song actually serve if its as ubiquitous as James Taylor playing in the background while youre getting your teeth cleaned? As Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bob Ford wrote in late August:But it could also be suggested that the national anthem should be bigger than football, too, at least bigger than an August exhibition game of no particular meaning. What exactly about that trivial event is worthy of being introduced by the playing of a song that commemorates a moment in which the nations independence was in the balance?Still, it is played. It is played before nearly every game, in nearly every sport, at nearly every level where there is a public address system. Why is that? Habit is the best answer. That and the unspoken belief that the two minutes it takes to perform the anthem is less trouble than dealing with the blowback were the anthem not played to consecrate each game, no matter how insignificant.Theres a bit of an uneasy relationship sports has developed here, with the anthem, with God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch, and, related, with the military. Im all for honoring our servicemen and women, but many of the tributes or presentations weve seen (such as the National Guard unfurling a big flag before a game) were actually paid for by the military itself. Which means paid for by U.S. taxpayers. The Department of Defense paid pro sports teams $53 million in marketing contracts between 2012 and 2015. (After Arizona Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake prepared a report on this, the DOD reportedly banned the practice and the NFL called for teams to stop taking payments.)So maybe a sporting event should simply be a sporting event. If we want displays of patriotism, we should be volunteering in our communities, helping our neighbors and trying to understand the plights of those different from ourselves. Then we can all be proud to stand.S Well Bouteille Paris . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. swell Bouteille France . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. http://www.swellbouteille.fr/ . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Bouteille SWell Marbre . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Bouteille swell a Vendre . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season.When rain was forecast for Brisbane, trainer Matt Dunn made the winning decision to send Madotti on a 10-hour float trip to Rosehill.Dunn has plundered five Highway races and a $100,000 race also restricted to country-trained horses since September, but Madotti was his first metropolitan grade Sydney winner as she took out the Roadwork Solutions Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.After being backed into $7.50, she edged out Pepperberry ($8) by a nose with Magic Aibi ($7) filling the minor placing.Madotti was nominated for the Listed Colin McAlpine Memorial Classic at Eagle Farm but forecast rain convinced Dunn to send Madotti from his Murwillumbah stable to Sydney.He was vindicated before the win, with a morning deluge at Eagle Farm rendering in the track in the soft range.Ideally thatt was where we were going to go but with the forecast of rain Matt pulled the right rein and decided to come down here, Dunns wife Keira said.ddddddddddddShe didnt do much in her trial and it was a big risk coming down here a little bit underdone but she just tries so hard.Madotti will now head towards the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares (1300m) on the Gold Coast on January 14.She was the second leg of a winning double after Delightful Feeling took out the Highway Handicap.Dunn said they would only look at establishing a Sydney stable if they had the quality of horses to be competitive.Were not prepared to come down here and get bashed up, she said. 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