Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks said that it was his decision to no longer play the national anthem before home games at American Airlines Center.
They have not played the National Anthem this season and do not plan on playing it going forward.
The Mavericks, who have an 11-14 record, have played 12 games at their home arena this season. They haven’t played the national anthem in any of their 13 preseason games, as well as those 12 regular-season matchups, including Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which was the first game with a small number of fans in the stands.
Cuban and the Mavericks didn’t publicize the removal of the national anthem prior to games, but The Athletic reached out to the team after realizing that it wasn’t played before Monday’s matchup. A number of team employees only noticed the removal of the anthem on their own, according to The Athletic. They also said that it was not announced or explained internally.
According to the Athletic, Cuban and the Mavericks organization declined to comment.
UPDATE:
NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass issued the following statement regarding playing the National Anthem: “With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy.”
Could it be the NBA understands what it means to “get woke, go broke”?
Tampa Mayor: Maskless Superbowl Celebrators “Will be Identified” by Police
The mayor of Tampa, FL says that the “bad actors” who celebrated the Super Bowl without wearing masks will be identified and “handled” by the police.
At a press briefing yesterday, Mayor Jane Castor said, “We had tens of thousands of people all over the city, downtown, out by the stadium…and very very few incidents. So I’m proud of our community but those few bad actors will be identified and the Tampa Police Department will handle it.”
She continued, “Everyone knows that simply wearing a mask dramatically reduces the spread of COVID-19. And I’m proud to say that the majority of the individuals that I saw out and about enjoying the festivities associated with the Super Bowl were complying.”
“There just has to be that level of personal responsibility. You can supply everyone with a mask, advise them of the science behind it and expect that they are going to abide by the mask order. Again, you’re gonna find a few that don’t. The majority that I saw were wearing masks.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to the mask mob yesterday after he was criticized for not wearing a mask at the Super Bowl.
Caught DeSantis before he left an event and he brought up this picture on his own by saying, "Someone said, 'hey, you were at the Super Bowl without a mask' … but how the hell am I going to be able to drink a beer with a mask on? Come on. I had to watch the Bucs win." https://t.co/OEDAeW2eGM
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) February 8, 2021
According to a report from the Daily Caller, DeSantis said yesterday to reporters, “Someone said, ‘Hey, you were at the Super Bowl without a mask,’ But how the hell am I going to be able to drink a beer with a mask on? Come on. I had to watch the Bucs win.”
Tom Brady Takes a Lot of Heat From "Important" People on Twitter For Not Wearing a Mask
Even though Quarterback Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a super bowl win, one of the big stories on Twitter was the fact that he walked into the stadium without wearing a mask.
What's Tom listening to? ????
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/oCBzKgbKLc
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 7, 2021
The Daily Caller even pointed out that Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris did not hesitate to ask why Brady was maskless before the big game.
What’s Tom doing without a damn mask? ???? https://t.co/Om11kCCnpw
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 7, 2021
Other blue checkmarks on twitter expressed their self-righteous disappointment as well.
What is up with Tom Brady walking into the stadium maskless! Only person in the video without a mask! Come on Tom. Really? pic.twitter.com/HHjGiuM9gd
— John Shumway (@KDKAShumway) February 7, 2021
Your reminder that (maskless) @TomBrady is a not a particularly great person. pic.twitter.com/JeeP88Yiir
— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) February 7, 2021
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