Photos pointing out the difference in the way Team USA and Serbia players stood for their respective national anthems before their Olympic semi-final clash last week are trending online, prompting some criticism for the players who represented America at the games.
The first image shows the Serbian team expressing unity and patriotism as they hold each other close to sing their anthem. In contrast, the other shows the Americans with their heads down and hands in their pockets, seemingly uninterested, while “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays.
To be fair, this is hardly unlike what we see before NBA games, but seeing it on the Olympic stage left many people angry, and they had a lot to say about the differences in the photos.
The Serbian and American basketball teams during their national anthems at the Paris Olympics.
Notice the difference? #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/wtqHDftodt
— Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) August 9, 2024
“Hands in your pants during the national anthem??? This is like insulting your own mother,” one said.
“They should be banned for playing in the national team,” another suggested.
“How can they disrespect their own country so much?!” another asked.
“I have always wondered how do true Americans feel when they see such disrespectful behavior,” said a fourth.
“Well, everyone from the Serbian team has actually been born in Serbia and probably many generations before them in their families. Serbians are known for loving Serbia,” someone commented.
“Ya the US has a bunch of overpaid prima donnas who care more about themselves than representing their country. It showed in the way they played also,” a user claimed.
“Many European countries require mandatory military service… which breeds a strong sense of patriotism. In contrast, Americans have been taught that their country is racist and evil… and that money matters more than anything else in their lives,” a comment read.
Team USA Basketball Showed Their American Pride After Beating Serbia
Team USA wasn’t exactly disrespectful, as none of the players knelt or turned away like they have during times of protest. One could argue that they might not feel inclined to stand rigidly because the anthem is played before every game in the NBA.
In any case, they showed their pride in celebrating their victory over Serbia after fashioning a second-half comeback that sealed passage to the final, where they beat France to win gold.
