The Kansas City Chiefs and the National Anthem

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 8:41 AM CDT in 2007 Kansas City Chiefs Season

In between discussions about training camp, Dwayne Bowe and Priest Holmes, I figured I would throw out a topic that many opposing fans criticize the Kansas City Chiefs for- singing "Home of the Chiefs" at the end of the national anthem instead of "Home of the Brave". Personally, I think it shows disrespect to the national anthem and what it stands for to change the actual words of the song. Plus, in this day and age, it has to be considered an especially egregious faux pas to denigrate anything patriotic. I have zero historical knowledge on why this practice started but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing it end this season.

I know I'm on the opposite side of the fence than a lot of Chiefs fans on this issue. I've attached a poll so make sure you click through to vote. I get the same rush yelling out "Brave" that I do when I yell out "Chiefs". We're better than that and should have the class to stop this unnecessary tradition.

Poll

Home of the "Chiefs"?

Keep it

193 votes

Lose it

35 votes

228 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Not to get all Howard Zinn on you, but...

The National Anthem is an amateur piece of poetry set to the tune of an 18th Century British drinking song.

It wasn't even made the 'National Anthem' until 1931, and while I'm not unamerican by any means this boy-scout overly patriotic reverence for a song seems silly. The "home of the Chiefs" is a positive tradition that is by no means intentionally disrespectful.

I'd feel differently if this was a discussion of the flag, but it's not, it's a song. Complaining about the "home of the Chiefs" is tantamount to getting upset about Jimi Hendrix's version at Woodstock.

I don't know what kind of propaganda swilling Statist would be offended by equating knee-jerk patriotism with perhaps an even sillier version of NFL fandom, but I do know one thing. I think Chris might be finding some common ground with Kige Ramsey...

Enjoy:
His political stuff is towards the beginning

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Aug 1, 2007 9:47 AM CDT reply actions

It may not

be intentionally disrespectful but I'm sure if you ask anyone outside of KC what they think, they'll say its offensive.

Intentional or not, I believe it to be disrespectful. Am I going to picket against this? Not at all. It's a frequent point of criticism for the franchise and I think we can do better.

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

The Neo-Tea Party

Well, when are people going to go after "Red Sox Nation" for being secessionist?

Sic Semper YAhDoodis!

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Aug 1, 2007 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Look at the name of this network

"Nation" is everywhere nowadays. I don't know of any other team, franchise or school that does what we do when it comes to the national anthem.

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

The O's

Check out an Orioles game--they all sing "OOOOOOO Say Can you See!" When the Nationals play the National Anthem, the "OOOOOOOs" are present even in DC, from unreformed Orioles' fans.

I think this concern is overblown. It's the end of the National Anthem. People yell out "play ball" or "[Opposing team] sucks" in the quiet of the anthem in all sorts of sports venues. Chiefs fans are by large respectful and patriotic throughout the National Anthem, and finish it off with a Chiefs flourish!

I for one will always sing the Chiefs version.

by tbwhall on Aug 1, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

I read a few

random comments from various message boards about how other fans dislike us using "Chiefs" instead of "Brave", which is what prompted this story.

I'm not really concerned about it. I'm more curious as to what those poll results are going to look like and to try to gauge (albeit a very small sample) the feelings of Chiefs fans.

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions

The week after 9/11

we said home of the "Brave" because the Giants were in town. The people criticizing the Chiefs for this probably just want a tradition of their own. At least we know when it approriate and when it's not.

by Joel Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 10:01 AM CDT reply actions

Hmm

Well, I guess my username sort of shows where I stand on the issue.

I love this country and I think most Chiefs fans do to but I love what this country is supposed to stand for more than its symbols, if that makes sense. It's kind of hard to explain because I know that these things are important to many people so we should show respect by standing, etc.

What I like about yelling "Chiefs" is it's a unique tradition to KC and displays our love for our football team and the pride we have in KC and Arrowhead by comparing it to the original words in the song. To me the fact that we are enjoying a football game in a free country is more inspiring than standing silently until the last note has been sung. But, I do understand why many don't feel that same way.

by Pauli on Aug 1, 2007 1:54 PM CDT reply actions

Wow...

What's more American than football? The Chiefs are American, and we embrace them, just as we embrace our soldiers. Nothing gets me more pumped up than this. I would be crushed if it ended. I think anyone who thinks of this as unpatriotic is taking it too seriously. It's not a sign of disrespect to the Red, White and Blue, but rather an expression of what the Chiefs mean to fans.

- Adam

ArrowheadAddict.com

by arrowheadaddict on Aug 1, 2007 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I know what you're saying

I just think we can do without it.

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

History and feelings

From the story I've heard, the "home of the Chiefs" ending came about in 1993 when Huey Lewis rode on to the field in a limo and changed the lyrics during his rendition of the anthem. I, for one, love it. I understand where everyone is coming from asking for this change, but I feel like everyone wants to change anything that could be considered even remotely offensive to anyone. I believe that this trend removes uniqueness and results in a homogenized society. When I was a kid, we dressed up for Halloween and wore our costumes to school. My little sister didn't get to do that because one person complained about it. She missed out on something really fun because one person had a problem with it. Don't cave so easily! We're too concerned with the possibility of offending a small group of people. I don't want to go with the "slippery slope" approach, but there is a whole sector of society with a gripe about the name of the team as well. I believe that they have a much more valid concern.

It gives me a rush every time hearing the whole (or 90%) of the stadium yell "Chiefs!" If you remove your hat, stand with your hand over heart and sing the national anthem, you're not unpatriotic. Can't you show love for your country and your team at the same time?

by Kent @ Arrowhead Pride on Aug 1, 2007 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

It gives me a rush too

I just think we could do without it and still keep the rush around.

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Welcome to the site BTW

by Chris Thorman on Aug 1, 2007 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

what a joke

the home of the chiefs is one of the many things that makes arrowhead one of the premier sporting venues. i've heard quotes from players talking about arrowhead getting chills when they hear that, knowing what they're in for in the 60 minutes of football. is it disrespect? no!!! as was cited before, the first game after 9/11, which i attended, everyone stayed quiet for that part and cheered at the end. people know what's respectful and what's not. high schools across the country finish their anthems w/ their own chant "home of the CATS" "home of the etc." and it isn't offensive. the history of the song itself, as mentioned above, places it in one of those categories... my last argument centers around one person singing the song to make our home of the chiefs version sound like the pledge of allegiance...

ROSEANNE!!!

i wanted to include a picture, but couldn't figure that out and didn't wanna waste my time posting an ugly person's picture on the internet.

pat

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything (65949) on Aug 1, 2007 2:55 PM CDT reply actions

CHIEFS FAN FIRST

AMERICAN A DISTANT SECOND

by i drink herms koolaid on Aug 1, 2007 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

Technically...

It IS the home of the Chiefs...

Arrowhead it's a free country, love it or leave it.

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Aug 1, 2007 4:23 PM CDT reply actions

changing the arrowhead anthem

One word: Boo. It's fine how it is. Anyone offended by it can go work for the Star, where they refuse to print Redskins. Gimme a break.

by bankmeister on Aug 1, 2007 6:51 PM CDT reply actions

i agree with everyone else...

it is one of the best and most exciting parts of watching a game at arrowhead stadium.

i remember reading a quote from rod smith saying that, in his first game ever in arrowhead stadium his rookie season, hearing the "home of the CHIEFS!!!" freaked him out. he said something like "it felt like 70,000 people were chasing after me yelling at me"...

i think it would be a shame to take such a thing away for fear of offending a vast minority.

by rockchalk on Aug 1, 2007 7:34 PM CDT reply actions

Come on

This arguement struck me as so petty, I just had to chime in. There's a difference between "proper" and offensive. Are we offending brave people? There seems to be a segment of society that feels they know what is proper. The ones that eat their cheesburger with the correct fork etc. In a free country it is unpatriotic to call someone unpatriotic for changing the words of a song in a benign way. If it were something horrible being said, that would be shamefull, but it's not. It's is a vast majority of people having fun. Those that want to look for fault in that, shouldn't be at a football game with all of those unrefined people. The arguement that we could just do without it, isn't an argument at all. It's something my grandmother says to make me feel bad about something off color I might have said. The bottom line is, it's not going to stop anytime soon. Because, like kissing in public, it might be in poor taste, but we could give two shakes what anybody thinks. GO CHEIFS!

by iguy2000 on Aug 1, 2007 11:41 PM CDT reply actions