'Jen'erally Speaking - Did You Hear What I Heard?

I see a lot of sporting events.

Especially basketball games.

Of course I do. I'm a sports writer. It's part of my job.

But Saturday night in Syracuse, I witnessed something out of this world.

And it didn't even happen during the game. It didn't involve Wawasee senior standout Shanna Zolman. It didn't have anything to do with the TV cameras, the radio stations or hype that surrounded the game of the week.

No, this outstanding event happened before the starting whistle signaled the beginning of the game.

It happened during the National Anthem.

In the course of my three years here at the Times-Union, I have heard the National Anthem hundreds of times. You know, before every high school sporting event. I took the mic even sang it once.

Throughout my life in general I have probably heard it thousands of times. I'm no stranger to the song that honors our great nation. In fact, I love it and the country it represents.

But Saturday night in Syracuse, it was different.

Sure, the crowd rose to recognize the nation as is the custom. And people removed their hats out of respect for the flag and what it stands for.

Then Wawasee band instructor Mike Clark stepped to the microphone with his trumpet to play our nation's song just as he has, I'm assuming many times before.

But as he started to play something happened that brought tears to my eyes. As he played, the crowd, without scripting or encouraging from anyone, started to sing along.

The voices of nearly 3,000 people melded together to form a beautiful, spontaneous choir whose voice filled the gym and complemented Clark's music perfectly.

For that one moment, it didn't matter what school people were from. It didn't matter why they were at the game. It didn't even matter who was going to play the game or who would be the eventual winner.

For that one moment, everyone was cheering for the same team - America.

Some held their hands over their hearts. Some stared silently watching the flag and listening to the united voice of others.

And I'm sure I was not the only one thinking about the soldiers defending our country a world away in Afghanistan. Those brave men who are risking their lives so we can be here enjoying our everyday lives. Getting on with our day-to-day activities (like watching high school sporting events) and resuming some semblance of a normal life.

Maybe I notice these things more since the horrendous events of September 11.

Or maybe this was just one of those things that makes us stop and thank our lucky stars we have the freedom to gather, together look at that flag and proclaim what a great country we live in.

Either way, I'm positive I'm not the only one who witnessed what happened Saturday night. For those who weren't there, I can only hope that at some point you witness a magical event like I did in Syracuse this weekend.