Well, here’s a new wrinkle in the Colin Kaepernick National Anthem saga. ESPN — which is set to broadcast the 49ers-Rams game on Monday September 12, will now show the National Anthem after all as part of the telecast:
ESPN's Mark Gross says the network will broadcast live the national anthem before the MNF game between the 49ers & Rams on Sept. 12. (1/2)
— ESPN Public Editor (@ESPNPublicEd) September 1, 2016
Because ESPN also has an 8:10pm ET game that night, it will likely show it live on ESPN2 & address on main MNF broadcast, Gross said. (2/2)
— ESPN Public Editor (@ESPNPublicEd) September 1, 2016
Earlier the network announced that it wouldn’t air the National Anthem because they haven’t done so in the past:
Colin Kaepernick Protest: ESPN Won't Show National Anthem For 49ers-Rams 'Monday Night Football' Opener https://t.co/0B0ilk1mAs
— DeplorableKatwood (@Thunderhorse149) September 1, 2016
There are actually two games on Monday September 12. The first game of the night is between the Steelers and the Redskins, meaning ESPN will actually break into coverage to watch Kaepernick not stand up for the song. From Awful Announcing:
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This may mark the first time a sports network has broken into other programming for live anthem coverage.
It’ll be interesting to see how the main telecast handles it on ESPN once they go live with the second half of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. Given it’ll be Chris Berman calling the game, you just know an awkward moment awaits…
In other words, now that ESPN knows it can cash in on the National Anthem, it shows the National Anthem. How patriotic…
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