Opening Ceremonies

Each sporting event has its own unique way of getting things started. The organizers of these events spend countless hours planning and preparing the best possible way to get both the athlete and fan ready for action. Each sporting event is different, which is why each sporting venue chooses a different way to welcome those who will spend the next 3-4+ hours together in the stands. For example: Fireworks inside the Delta Center. The world’s best marching band at the Big House. Honorary retired PGA superstar hitting the first ball at the Masters. F-14 fly overs at Candlestick Park. Lights, pageantry, special effects, and mind-blowing stunts at the opening ceremonies of every Olympiad since Salt Lake City in 2002. Most sporting events try to put their best foot forward before the real action begins.

With that said, I have been able to witness the pre-game shows at both LeVell Edwards Stadium and Rice-Eccles Stadium. BYU is a church run school, and as they put their best foot forward before the game they ask everyone in the stadium to bow their heads and observe a prayer that is said over the stadiums speakers. This prayer is usually given by a “well-to-do” LDS member. At first, this pre-game activity seems very out of place, but as one thinks about what message BYU is trying to send, it is easy to conclude that they want everyone to remember why their school exists. The fans, school and sports program are strange, so the prayers fits right in.

On the other hand, the University of Utah takes a somewhat more disturbing approach to their pre-game pump-up party. Don’t get me wrong, I love Utah football games. I have been going to Utah football games since I was 8 years old (section 36, row 11, seat 14), but someone in the pre-game planning committee has to re-think their decisions. I love the U of U marching band and the dude that comes over the speakers talking about the red rock hills of the south and the rocky mountain peaks to the west. I love the Crimson Line waving their flags and prancing around in their red spandex, but when the pageantry ends and the football team comes out to the field some brainiac rolls the pre-game hip-hop music:

2008 Pre-game Artist: Soulja Boy Song: Crank Dat Soulja Boy
Soulja boy off in this hoe
Watch me crank it
Watch me roll
Watch me crank dat soulja boy
Then super man dat hoe
Now watch me yuuuuaaaaaa!

2009 Pre-game Artist: Flo Rida Song: Right Round
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down.
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down

Spencer Eccles is in the stands dancing to these songs! Is the U of U trying to send a message that I am not aware of? I am not suggesting we pray before the New Mexico game on Saturday, but I am suggesting the University of Utah take a second look at what “foot” they are putting forward. The best sporting events in the world are kicked off with a message that gets people jacked-up, but also reminds them of the beauty and majesty of sports. Bands, fireworks, jets, drummers, dancers, and Stevenson Sylvester stopping BYU from doing the Haka on his field all get me fired-up, but Soulja Boy singing about super-manning dat hoe is embarrassing.

Tell me what you think.