Texas Passes ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ Protection Act

The Texas Senate passed the “Star-Spangled Banner” Protection Acts this week in a 28-2 bipartisan vote, advancing the legislation to the state House for approval. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick referred to the passage as “one of the most surprising votes” during his tenure.

The “Star-Spangled Banner” Protection Act is a Republican-backed bill that requires professional sports teams with state government contracts to play the National Anthem before the start of a game.

“Texans are tired of sports teams that pander, insulting our national anthem and the men and women who died fighting for our flag,” Patrick wrote in a statement this week. “The passage of SB 4 will ensure Texans can count on hearing the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ at major sports events throughout the state that are played in venues that taxpayers support. We must always remember that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Patrick decided to pursue the acts after NBA Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stopped playing the National Anthem before home games. Many patriotic Texans blasted the move, with some even urging Cuban to sell the team to someone else.

For the 2021-22 season, Cuban decided to leave out the anthem before the team’s first 10 home games, as well as preseason games without fans at the stadium. When fans began to return to the stands in February, Cuban continued the new tradition.

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NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass soon issued a statement saying the anthem must be played by all teams. “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.”

But the damage had been done. Patrick and the GOP-led Texas Senate have taken the next step to require all professional sports teams in Texas to continue the tradition.

The surprising bipartisan vote also included all but two Democrats. Virtually all Texans agree the National Anthem is a vital part of Texas sports.

Now if they could just get the other 49 states on board — maybe even add a requirement for all athletes and coaches to stand during the National Anthem. If so, patriotic Americans could have a real hoe down. Texas has long been known as one of the nation’s most independent states. Some even joke the state is really a nation that only pretends to be a state.

But not this time. Texans have revealed their loyalty to the USA, reigniting a level of pride unseen since the Olympic Games of a past generation. Today, President Joe Biden would not even consider boycotting the Olympic Games in China over human rights abuses. He’d rather move Major League Baseball’s All-Star game for trying to protect democracy.

Even the U.S. Olympic Committee has changed the rules to allow athletes to kneel or protest as they see fit. We need more moves like the Texas-led “Star-Spangled Banner” Protection Act if we hope to stand strong in our American values in the days ahead.

20 thoughts on “Texas Passes ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ Protection Act”

  1. If you hate america please feel free to leave….. we have enough jerkoffs in the white house already we do not need more. F sports after the kneel anyway…. over paid losers that think because they are good at playing with their balls their opinion means something more… this is a disgrace to the childern that have to see this. If you have a problem with the usa take a your ill gotten money and but you some prime time tv slot to air your problems… or better yet go to hail

    1. Michael,
      Truer words were never spoken. This s××t all started with a mediocre quarterback named Kapernick, shame on him and all who stand with him.

    2. Exactly! And La Bron James and Kaepernick are welcome to leave this country anytime! Overpaid is right!

  2. To have to pass a law to force a business to honor the country that gives them the freedom to exist is a direct consequence of allowing an educational system to become an indoctrination system. I suggest a reading of George Washington’s farewell to the nation upon his retirement from government service. He lays the blame squarely in the lap of political parties . I happen to agree.

  3. Those athlete’s that do not stand during the National Anthem or the Flag of the USA. They should be fined severely or drop the salary to rockie pay. Also when their contract is up, no one renew their contract. Let them get a real job. I have never seen such disrespect against this beautiful country. I refuse to watch any sports that condone this. Even my grand children’s sports they all stand for the Flag and sing the National Anthem. If they even try to kneel in disrespect to the flag they sit on the side line and don’t play. Maybe we should all be like Texas and have the BALLS to stand up for the National Anthem and the Flag of the USA.

  4. Yes all our states should take Texas’s lead of respect for our flag and our country. Also Georgia’s lead for honest elections.

  5. Stand proud TEXANS! Don’t worry about those professional athletes who think they are intelligent. Their IQ is worst than my pit bull dog! Most of them can’t or won’t have a dime five years after they play their last game! Or they even refuse to help the community they grew up in!

  6. The unfortunate answer to the continued bleats of those who think that they are doing well in insulting the USA flag as well as its national anthem : LEAVE this country that you so much despise with its respect for the flag etc. Go to wherever they will treat you for what you are (AN UNGRATEFUL) etc. etc. – I was born in another country and brought to this country as a child : I SAY ” GOD BLESS THIS MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND SOME OF ITS UNFORTUNATE FLAWS” Flaws that could be well overcome with the assistance and respect of all.

  7. As a turnaround contractor at an Exxon plant we had a safety meeting prior to work everyday. After the meeting we all stood and said the pledge of allegiance to the flag. One day the turnaround manager saw a couple guys not standing. He asked them to exit the TA tent then after the pledge he told them to get on the bus and leave the plant. They were not welcome to disrespect the flag of the USA. Made me proud to be working there at that time.

  8. Governor Abbott is a great American he know what it means to be a patriot I live just north in Oklahoma and our
    Governor is doing good work also.

  9. Greedy sports teams who get alot of there money from china, who abuse there people and more , greedy teams should take there spoiled players go to china and take a knee for there flag for me I will never spend another dime for any pro team . Many died for are flag and cowards take a knee for money and china

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