Anthem injustice at the Bruins home opener

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By Mary Paoletti
CSNNE.com

Some disturbing news rocked the local sports world on Wednesday.
Steven Tyler will be performing the National Anthem at the Bruins home opener tonight. But you know what? The problem isn't even about who IS scheduled to sing . . .

Okay, yeah, it kind of is.

It's awesome that Boston can claim Aerosmith as one of its own. "Dream On" alone is enough to make us forgive Tyler the GAP commercials and Top-40 cupcake "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing."

But the hometown relationship has been exploited to the nth degree.

I was at Fenway Park on Opening Day this season. Out of sheer pity or misplaced nostalgia, the Red Sox booked Steven Tyler to sing "God Bless America." Big mistake. The on-again, off-again Aerosmith frontman yowled like a cat in heat. An alcoholic cat in heat who was on a bender and just got dumped by its girlfriend. Or something.

Yet Boston is giving him another chance.

And, as alluded to earlier, this fact isn't even the true injustice. No, the reason Hub hockey fans are in an uproar is because the Bruins organization has denied Rene Rancourt the home opener -- the single greatest performance of an anthem crooner's season.

Some quick Rancourt facts for those unfamiliar with Bruins culture:
The man has been performing "The Star Spangled Banner" (and the Canadian anthem depending on opponent) at B's games for more than 30 years.

He wears a tuxedo.

After every performance he does the Stump Pump as a nod to former Bruin Randy Burridge. He then caps it off with a salute and points to the adoring crowd.

Rancourt was the one who performed "O Canada" during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montreal fans had previously booed the American anthem. So in the classiest act of revenge, like, ever, the sold-out Boston crowd drowned Rancourt out with applause and booming Thundersticks. He was cemented in Original Six history in that moment.

Seriously. He wears a tuxedo.

It's just not Bruins hockey if Rene isn't singing.
This last note is evidenced by the outcry that followed Wednesday's announcement. Black and Gold blog, Days of Y'Orr, captured the reaction of fans on its site.

It's not pretty.

What will they do tonight at the TD Garden? I have no idea but it'll be memorable. I have no doubt that the Bruins organization will get the message that Rene can't be replaced.

And hopefully, Rancourt will too.

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