NFL fans left divided by national anthem sang by American troop at Hall of Fame Game – ‘sang with his soul’

THE NFL Hall of Fame Game’s national anthem divided fans before the first game of the season.

Staff Sergeant Ken Bettinger of the Ohio National Guard sang the Star Spangled Banner ahead of the NFL‘s first preseason game.

NBC

The national anthem before the Hall of Fame Game got mixed opinions from fans[/caption]

AP

The anthem was powerful after the shooting at NFL headquarters[/caption]

Before the meeting of the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, Sergeant Bettinger took the microphone for his performance.

Bettinger isn’t a singer, but still went out to perform the song.

While it wasn’t the greatest rendition of all time, fans mostly still loved the effort that Bettinger put into the song.

“That’s a good national anthem. Normalize having people that live it sing it instead of so called famous people. Let someone who loves their country and truly put there life on line to protect it sing it,” one fan said.

“Bruh sang that National Anthem with his soul,” another fan said.

“Love the troops, but damn that was a terrible national anthem,” a third fan said.

“Outstanding National Anthem!!” a fourth fan said.

“That’s how a man sings the National Anthem!” a fifth fan said.

The anthem was especially powerful as it came just days after the shooting at NFL headquarters.

Four people were killed and one was injured in the senseless act of violence.

While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t at the Hall of Fame game, he spoke about the shooting in an interview before the game.

“Tremendous loss,” Goodell said in an interview before the game.

“You see the officer’s family, his young children.

“It’s something that happens in the line of work for police officers but that never makes it easy.

“(He is) somebody who we see outside the building when we come in most every day and it hits home — the loss, the unnecessary and unexplainable loss.

“It’s something that all of us, as New Yorkers, feel great pride in the NYPD and what they do and all the first responders.

“So, it was a difficult, emotional afternoon, but also a tremendous, heartwarming service for him.”

A moment of silence for the victims of the shooting was held before Bettinger’s rendition of the national anthem.