The video: Why pay pop stars to bungle the National Anthem (ahem, Aguilera) when the fans themselves can ace it? Last Thursday, at the Portland Timbers first-ever Major League Soccer game, some 17,000 fans, led by a group of the most enthusiastic, known as the Timbers Army, all joined together and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" in the rain. On their feet, pumping their fists, and waving Timbers scarves, they gave a rousing performance of the notoriously tricky tune that's being called "chillingly inspiring." (See for yourself below.)
The reaction: This is "an awesome rendition of the 'Star Spangled Banner,'" says SGTdopushups at BuzzFeed. Yeah, "17,000 plus singing it in the rain... whether you are a soccer fan or not, you have to be impressed," says A. Isaac at Guyism. Indeed, "one of the things I love about the MLS is that they've managed to import the European tradition of rabid fan support, minus the hooliganism," says Rick Chandler at NBC Sports. Watch it:
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