Americans would prefer to keep politics out of sports.
But the woke Left won’t let that happen.
And this awful national anthem protest is going to lead to one big change.
LSU players leave the court for the national anthem
The LSU Tigers played Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes for a berth in the women’s Final Four in what was the most highly anticipated women’s college basketball game of all time.
A record 12.3 million viewers tuned in to see Iowa advance behind Clark’s 41 points.
But what should have been a big night for Clark and the game in general was marred by an ugly scene before the game.
Clark and her Iowa teammates stood and held hands for the playing of the national anthem.
However, the LSU players were nowhere to be found as they left the court prior to the “Star Spangled Banner.”
LSU players left the court before the national anthem was played.
Iowa players stayed and held hands. pic.twitter.com/ERla82Ar0e
— OutKick (@Outkick) April 1, 2024
The press asked LSU coach Kim Mulkey why her team wasn’t on the floor for the national anthem.
Mulkey claimed this was a routine they followed all year.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” Mulkey told reporters. “We kind of have a routine when (our players are) on the floor, and they come off at the 12-minute mark (prior to the game).”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry responds
Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry was not happy with the display from his state’s flagship university.
In a post on social media, Landry explained that his mother coached girl’s high school basketball and he greatly admired Coach Mulkey.
However, Landry added that the national anthem is an important way Americans can honor the sacrifice of the military service members who fought for the nation’s freedom.
“My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach [Kim] Mulkey,” Landry posted on X.
“However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag!” Landry added.
“It is time that all college boards, including Regent, put a policy in place that student athletes be present for the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarship! This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill,” Landry concluded.
Thanks to Colin Kaepernick, the national anthem turned into a front in the Left’s culture wars.
After the backlash to all the Black Lives Matter protests during the summer of 2020, pro sports leagues realized it’s for the best to stay out of politics and respect the national anthem.
That message clearly hasn’t filtered down to women’s college basketball and the LSU Tigers.
