The Key Stone-head State

If stadiums still used phonographs instead of digital music players, high school hockey in Pennsylvania could probably still include the National Anthem, as long as they sped up the record to 78RPM.

It seems that the high schools, in renting their arenas, only pay for a certain amount of time and when that time is up, the lights go off. So in the interests of saving money, Pennsylvania state school officials have directed the games omit that pesky "Star-Spangled Banner" because it takes too long and costs too much money.

Trouble is, most recorded versions of the anthem clock in at around a minute and a half. Even Jimi Hendrix's psychedelic fuzzed-out version from Woodstock is less than three and a half minutes long. If the schools are paying a rate so high that an extra two minutes really breaks the bank, then I think they've got other problems...like state school officials who could use a math refresher or two. Followed by a wee little bit of history.