Belak says anthem boo birds should
be ashamed
By TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun
Maple Leafs players reacted with jeers and shrugs to the people who booed the U.S. national anthem at the Bell Centre in Montreal prior to a Canadiens game on Thursday against the New York Islanders.
"I think it's a joke," Wade Belak, a native of Saskatoon, said. "The U.S. is the one protecting our (butts) in the rest of the world. They are our big brother and we need them. For them to boo the anthem is disgraceful.
"If anything, Canadians should be kissing (Americans' butts)."
Despite being asked to "show your support and respect for two great nations" before the anthems, many in the crowd of 21,273 booed throughout The Star Spangled Banner to show their displeasure for the war the U.S. has waged on Iraq.
Last night in Atlanta, a small group of people booed the first few lines of the Canadian anthem prior to the Ottawa Senators' game against the Thrashers, but the boos quickly died down and many applauded at the end.
Phil Housley, a native of St. Paul, Minn. and one of two Americans on the Leafs, recognized the tenet of free speech and did not seem overly bothered by the booing.
"Everybody can voice their opinion, but you don't like to hear (the booing)," Housley said.
Defenceman Jyrki Lumme, a Finland native, said if people want to boo that's fine.
"I would not do it to any anthem but there are different ways of showing how you feel," he said. "They have the freedom to do it."
The Canadiens offered up an apology yesterday, while NHL spokesman Gary Meagher said he did not expect the issue to become league-wide.
At games in Vancouver and Calgary, there was cheering during the U.S. anthem.
