Australian basketball star Patty Mills on why he sings the national anthem
Although some of our indigenous sporting stars have chosen not to sing the national anthem before games, Boomers superstar Patty Mills is not one of them. Here he tells why.
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Australian basketball great Patty Mills has revealed why he’s refused to join the boycott of the national anthem, saying he gets “goosebumps” singing alongside his Boomers teammates.
The silent anthem protests hit the headlines this year when indigenous players took a stand during the State of Origin series.
The likes of Dane Gagai, Cody Walker and Will Chambers kept quiet because they feel the anthem doesn’t represent their people.
But Mills, arguably the biggest advocate for indigenous issues in Australian sport through his endless community work, says there is something special about singing our national song with pride.
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“You know that you are ready to go in the trenches with your mates side-by-side,” Mills told The Daily Telegraph.
“When you get 11 guys next to you who are all belting it out as well, there is something in that where you are just proud to be able to represent your country and represent it the right way.
“It is a goosebumps feeling when you have all 12 players belting it out.
“I take an enormous amount of pride to wear the green and gold and represent all those people as a whole.
“The way that I was brought up and being able to have the opportunity to play for Australia, that is just part of it and wearing these colours.”
Mills also respects any individuals decision not to sing the anthem.
“It is a personal choice,” he said.
“It is obviously a sensitive topic but think the way that we (the Boomers) and I see it is that I am a role model for not only indigenous people but all Australians.”
Other indigenous athletes such as Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale and Maroons legend Justin Hodges choose to sing the anthem.
Hodges believes it is necessary to honour the fallen war heroes of Australia by singing the national anthem.
“For me I never really had a problem singing it because I have always thought about the guys that have put their life on the line for us,” Hodges said before State of Origin I in Brisbane.
“I sing it for the soldiers and those guys that have given us the freedom to play rugby league.
“But there is a lot of history that comes with that and a lot of those guys have taken a stance and I’m fine with that.
“I appreciate that because it takes a lot of courage to stand up and say that.”
Mills has played with plenty of pride and purpose during Australia’s World Cup campaign.
He had 15 points in Sunday’s win over Canada while he dropped a game-high 22 points in Tuesday’s victory against Senegal.
Mills said there is no better feeling than donning the green and gold on the world stage.
“I’ve been able to represent Australia for over a decade now at junior and senior level and I take a great amount of pride in representing everyone,” he said.
“I’m just happy because it is a good feeling representing your country and I hope everyone got that feeling.”
Australia take on Lithuania in their final group game on Thursday night at 9.30pm (AEST).