re: Vin Scully on NFL Protests: 'I will never watch another NFL game'

During the War of 1812, Key, accompanied by the British Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant as the guests of three British officers.

Skinner, Key, and Beanes were not allowed to return to their own sloop because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and with the British intent to attack Baltimore. Thus, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore on the night of September 13–14, 1814.

At dawn, Key was able to see an American flag still waving. Back in Baltimore and inspired, Key wrote a poem about his experience, "Defence of Fort M'Henry".

He took it to Thomas Carr, a music publisher, who adapted it to the rhythms of composer John Stafford Smith's "To Anacreon in Heaven", a popular tune Key had already used as a setting for his 1805-song "When the Warrior Returns", celebrating U.S. heroes of the First Barbary War.

When it was first adopted as the National Anthem by Woodrow Wilson - only Military bands were required to play it.

So the Anthem has always had a STRONG military connection historically - let alone in the NFL when they parade out Marines and Honor Guards and Soldiers during the National Anthem the last 30 years.

So for athletes to say or be ignorant of - that the anthem has nothing to do with the military, they haven't been playing NFL football...and they don't know their history.