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    How Sports Met 'The Star Spangled Banner'

    "The Star Spangled Banner" has been played at major sporting events as far back as the Civil War, even before it was officially named the national anthem. How and why did the tradition stick?
    by Tom Goldman Sep 06, 2018 5 minutes
    At Florida's Tampa Stadium in 1991, Whitney Houston delivered an iconic performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" to kick off Super Bowl XXV.

    This story is part of American Anthem, a yearlong series on songs that rouse, unite, celebrate and call to action. Find more at NPR.org/Anthem.

    Today is one of the biggest dates on the American sports calendar: the start of a new NFL regular season, as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons. But there's a third player in this game, too — a musical one.

    The National Anthem, once again, is the focus of attention. Since 2016, the anthem has served as a platform for protest with some NFL players, and a symbol of division in the country. The controversy ramped up this week, with the announcement that Nike has hired original NFL protester Colin Kaepernick marking the 30th anniversary of the apparel company's "Just Do It" slogan. But it's merely the latest chapter in a more than 150-year connection between "The Star Spangled Banner" and sports, one

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