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The New York Yankees get it

Posted by Michael James on Oct. 19, 2010

For years, I have tried to impress upon the dozen or so readers of my blog that The Star Spangled Banner is NOT a love song.  Implied in that statment is that God Bless America isn't, either.

So I am absolutely besides myself (in a good way) when, while watching the Yankees bullpen puke up another playoff game, the Seventh Inning Stretch begins and TBS stays at Yankee Stadium (Game 4 of the ALCS) for the traditional God Bless America.

When they announced "Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award nominated actor Patrick Wilson" as the singer, I was concerned.  "Great, an actor", said I.

And I was blown away with the reverence and powerful voice.  It was stunning.  And as soon as I see his version posted on line, I promise to edit this entry and link it.  Hopefully by Wednesday morning.

In fairness, I was driving home from work this morning when I heard Zooey Deschanel's version during Game 3 of the NLCS at Giants Stadium.  Concerned as I was that a Zooey was going to sing, I was also impressed with her pipes.  Overall, a very good day indeed for reverential patriotism.

Let us not forget, however, how the playoff God Bless America started.  Remember that little airplane thing on September 11, 2001?  The Yankees made the playoffs that year, and during the first playoff game, they trotted out Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan, and changed the way I viewed God Bless America.

Tynan has since been disgraced in New York for an anti-Semetic remark and has run off to Boston, but hopefully Patrick Wilson will be handed the job of official God Bless America guy in New York.  He's earned it in my book with tonight's performance.

Memo to the Milwaukee Brewers.... How can you - after hearing Wilson's version (or even Tynan's, for that matter) of God Bless America - even consider torturing us with Martina McBride's version during the Seventh Inning Stretch at Sunday home games at Miller Park?  It's horrible.  Just horrible.

Watch Wilson's again, and pay the royalties to play his version.  We already are honored to hear (Brewers owner Mark's father) Joseph Attanasio sing The Star Spangled Banner each opening day, now maybe we can get Wilson's God Bless America, too.