Fed Cup National Anthem Flub

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The playing of the National Anthem at sporting events in a sacred moment. It’s an uplifting song identified with a particular group. A solemn patriotic song adopted by a country as an expression of national identity. A moment for people to reflect on the present and the past . . . .well some moments of our worlds past don’t really need reflecting on. So, when a Nazi Era Anthem was sang during a recent United States versus Germany Fed Cup Match in Hawaii, some people weren’t too thrilled.

I’m not so sure there’s a word, or a phrase to actually describe how epically disastrous this was. Because epically disastrous doesn’t even do that situation justice.

Somehow opera singer Will Kimball – forever infamous now – sang the wrong version of the German National Anthem. The tune was right, but the words he sang were very wrong. The words in a particular verse that said “Germany, Germany, above all, above all in the world.” This verse was dropped after world war Two because of its close association with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Regime.

The United States clearly has expressed their embarrassment at this colossal error, and the American Tennis Federation has profusely apologized, but what’s done is done. And a massive mistake that will hopefully be forgiven, will most certainly not be forgotten.

Ironically enough, this isn’t the first time this has happened in Tennis. At a Davis Cup match in Sydney Australia in 2003, a version of the Spanish Anthem, not in use since the 1930’s, was played. One that included lyrics referring to a man who wipes his booty on King Alfonso the 12th :/

In regards to this more recent flub, The German Tennis Federation and players are . . .pretty peeved.

“I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone on Fed Cup” said Germany’s Andrea Petkovic. Adding that she actually even considered walking off of the court before her singles match against Alison Riske.

German team coach Barbara Ritter said the mistake was “an absolute scandal, a disrespectful incident, and inexcusable.”

And to kinda sum it up, German Tennis Federation Chief Ulrich Klaus said:

“Our American hosts at the Fed Cup opening in Hawaii made a mistake that should not happen. The fact that in year 2017 a wrong anthem can be played that is associated with the horror of the past was for players, and staff, and the officials present, both shocking and disturbing.”

Bravo United States! Bravo!

Perhaps a bit more careful due diligence when preparing these songs is something that should happen in the future?!

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