The video is making the rounds yet again to rile up people in a time of political turmoil, but the event took place back in 2015.

And have no fear, no one refused to play the American National Anthem at the 6A regional playoff game between the Katy Lady Tigers and the Brazoswood Lady Buccaneers. Technical difficulties make it impossible.

Before the game in Manvel, Texas, players lined up along the baselines waiting for the Star-Spangled Banner to play, just like they always do.

Then the announcer came on and said it wouldn’t be playing and that the game would begin shortly.

Again, the system was broken. There was no malicious intent.

The crowd reacts

The crowd was disappointed. They were ready to sing, standing up with hats off and hands over hearts. But the ladies walked off the field to prepare.

And baseball is a game of tradition. Whether or not you consider yourself a staunch patriot (and whatever that means to you) who wears your love for your country in the form of a flag right on your sleeve or you keep those feelings closer to your heart, the anthem is a part of the game we’ve come to expect and appreciate.

Heck, it’s a tradition all over the world!

And, let’s face it, even in times of doubt over politics, there’s just something about that song that makes people feel good, even emotional. It’s one of the better and more triumphant anthems, after all (the Canadians and the French have great ones too, though France’s is pretty gruesome).

But if you put a bunch of Americans at a baseball game and say there’s going to be no national anthem, the reason doesn’t matter – there’s bound to be one reaction. They’re going to sing it anyway. And don’t take away our 7th inning stretch either!

So the crowd carried out the tradition on their own – and we’re willing to bet felt all the more warm and fuzzy because of it. The players even came back onto the field and faced the flag until they were done singing.

History and controversy

If we’ve learned anything this past year it’s that a lot of American history is tainted with painful moments for so many of our citizens and other people who keep the U.S. functioning. And that’s no different from most other Westen countries. Just look at England’s imperial past!

In fact, it was the Brits that inspired our song as we fought against them for our freedom – and you can read some history here.

They had ransacked Washington and torched the White House in September of 1814 and taken hostages. The Americans negotiated for their release, but the prisoners weren’t allowed to leave yet because they had overheard plans for a siege in Baltimore at Fort McHenry.

Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and prisoner of the British, witnessed the siege – the rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air as he wrote the song. But he also witnessed many American slaves take the British up on their offer to free them, and his overt racism meant the song would be shelved until 1931 in favor of “My Country Tis’ of Thee” for many years.

The Star-Spangled Banner was popular in the South where some of the racist lyrics – which have been removed in our modern version – didn’t phase slaveholders.

Most people don’t know that part but it’s worth remembering where things come from and why not all Americans might not love singing a song written under such conditions. But there’s no rule that you have to sing it.

And, of course, singing a song isn’t an indication of your true patriotism – the way you treat those who live in your country is.

Back in Texas…

Even those against it know that when the PA system goes down and it can’t be played at a sporting event, they’re probably going to hear it anyway courtest of the crowd.

Oh, and for those wondering, the Katy Lady Tigers went on to win the game, 12-5, and take the series 2-1 to advance to the 6A state playoffs.

Scroll down below to see the patriotic scene for yourself.

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Source: ABC13 News, YouTube – NefDefFilms, The Washington Post