I dont agree

Ryno: Why is that so??

Why do u think the players welcome it?

Why is the anthem even played for anyway. I'm not playing for Australia.

But ELG, you are a sour person, so your national pride, or lack thereof needs to be taken with a grain of salt!

I think that the National Anthem should be played for international games only.

its good cos after the anthem ppl get pumped and then the big throw downs happen, keep the 3 minutes!

The National Anthem is played so when/if any of you do get to NBL/International level, you should all know the words.

Ditch the anthem. It has got squat to do with a local ABA game in a tin shed anyway.

Why dont they play the national anthem before every AFL game? Beacuse it is not needed.

Lets not get all chest thumpingly patriotic like some of our cousins overseas; this is laid back Oz.

Ditch it.

have to agree about getting rid of the anthem. would be ok for finals, but during regular season games shouldn't be played. nice to be patriotic, but when you hear it every week, takes away its meaning in a sense, plus, how many people know the words anyway?

I agree with Ricey. Week in week out makes it boring. If it was only there occasionally, it would be far less of a drag.

How many ABL games have you played Ricey??? Lol.. Definitely keep it for the finals, as it pumps you up even more listening to it. The idea behind the 3 minutes to me would be, that once you've gone through your warm ups and then find yourself standing around for 5 minutes you tend to get a little cold again, so for the purpose of warming up the starting 5 again they chuck in a few more minutes to get the blood pumping again.

Australian Basketball League - hence the National Anthem.

Australian's are the worst country for being unpatriotic. Be greatful for the country we live in, and be proud to call yourself Australian's.

I love the final 3 minutes of warm up. That's the time you bring out your biggest dunks. The kids love the last 3 minutes. Keep it.

I love the three minutes after the anthem!!! The anthem makes the hairs on your neck stand up and when you go back out for 3 minutes i find am much more fired up and feel even more ready to play...

I remember when i played in the states and hearing the US anthem for the first time my whole body tingled and the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. Then the 3 minutes after the anthem allowed you to fire up but settle down and get your emotions in check and get ready to play!!!

Leave the anthem and leave the 3 minutes after, wouldnt have it any other way!!!

for those of you that agree with the extra 3 minutes:

1. How many of you are starters??
2. Why cant you do all your freaking dunking in the 20 freaking minutes of warm up time.

Why on earth do you need an extra 3 mintues???

makes absolutely no sense

totally agree with ASIO agent. what league is it called??? the ABL stands for what exactly??? be proud of where u come from, if u r from another country playing in our league feel proud that u r apart of it. if u r lucky enough to play ABL, listen to the anthem, shut ur eyes and prepare urself for ur game... see how u feel once its finished... and go from there.