In the not-so-hallowed halls of where sports meet spectacle, one might think that singing the nation’s favorite tune would be a cakewalk for a Broadway star. Enter Kristin Chenoweth, an award-winning actress from Oklahoma who recently took the stage to sing the national anthem at the NBA finals. Now, for those keeping score, this was the game between Oklahoma City and the Indiana Pacers—a match that didn’t quite make the highlight reel, but we’ll talk about that later.

Picture this: a singer with a voice meant for Tony Awards, not touching the hearts of millions with her rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The end result left more than a few spectators with their ears ringing and questioning if such a performance was a deliberate mockery or just a major misfire. The fallout on social media was swift and brutal, likening her high notes to an alarm siren rather than an anthem.

Perhaps it’s the NBA’s own history that adds flavor to this spicy debacle. The league, having fervently embraced on-court activism just a few seasons back, faced plummeting ratings and interest—a sharp drop that mirrored the lack of enthusiasm in the arena. Who would have thought that players taking a knee would coincide with viewers taking a seat on the sidelines?

Fans, however, had no problem finding their voice online, with many nostalgically referencing Fergie’s notorious anthem, suggesting Kristin’s performance made that look Grammy-worthy. Yet, another portion of the audience graciously stated that Chenoweth is indeed a talented performer—just not in this particular setting. The mix of the disappointed and the defenders created quite the digital spectacle.

So what does this tell us about the state of entertainment in sports? Maybe it’s time to get back to basics and celebrate the anthem in its true form, minus the theatrics. Could it be that patriotism, much like talent, sometimes requires a proper stage and a genuine approach? Just ask the players who tuned out or tried to laugh it off—a timely reminder that something is indeed amiss in sports land. Perhaps instead of asking how much a singer hits the high notes, it’s time to ask how much heart they bring to the performance.