Look at it this way: He's gonna get hated on for it, obviously, but in the end what will happen? Nothing. He's not gonna get benched, or fined, nothing. So people are better served passing it off as Josh Howard being Josh Howard, and MOVING ON.
who cares? really, everytime im @ a game i hate havin to stand thru that shit lol, just get the game crackin....funny part of it they made sure they threw in that part when he said obama 08 to make it such a political issue
didn't, fuck what's his name, that muslim NBA player that had OCD with like the best free throw percentage ever get into some heat over not standing for the national anthem? something like that I seem to recall....
Abdul-Rauf is perhaps best known for the controversy created when he refused to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" before games[1], stating that the flag was a "symbol of oppression" and that the United States had a long "history of tyranny". He said that standing to the national anthem would therefore conflict with his Islamic beliefs. On March 12, 1996, the NBA suspended Abdul-Rauf for his refusal to stand, but the suspension lasted only one game. Two days later, the league was able to work out a compromise with him, whereby he would stand during the playing of the national anthem but could close his eyes and look downward. He usually silently recited a Muslim prayer during this time.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Two days later, the league was able to work out a compromise with him, whereby he would stand during the playing of the national anthem but could close his eyes and look downward. He usually silently recited a Muslim prayer during this time.
In an apparent publicity stunt gone wrong linked to this controversy, four employees of Denver's KBPI were charged with misdemeanor offenses related to entering a Colorado mosque and playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on a bugle and trumpet, in a provocative response to Abdul-Rauf's refusal to stand for the national anthem.[2]