NEW YORK, March 23 (UPI) -- The sports world continued to go about its business at home Saturday while showing support for the troops overseas.
Displays of patriotism were the order of the day at most sports venues as the playing of the national anthem or "God Bless America" was often greeted with warm applause.
Saturday's NHL game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at the First Union Center featured Lauren Hart, the Flyers' anthem singer, performing a duet with a scoreboard video of the late Kate Smith singing her famed rendition of "God Bless America."
Signs of support also were evident north of the border before an NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes. Responding to a taped address by Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, who implored fans to respect the anthems of both the U.S. and Canada, the sellout crowd at the Bell Centre enthusiastically cheered the final verse of the "Star Spangled Banner."
Upset with the American-led military action in Iraq, Canadiens' fans booed the U.S. anthem before Thursday's game with the New York Islanders. Team president Pierre Boivin issued an apology on Friday. The American anthem was sung by Charles Prevost-Linton, the same singer who was drowned out by the boos on Thursday.
War coverage was not affected the NCAA Tournament on CBS on Saturday, but that could change depending on events in Iraq.
ABC had planned to switch coverage of NHL games scheduled at 3 p.m. EST to ESPN and regional networks in the event of live coverage of the United States-led war with Iraq. But the games went on from start to finish on ABC.
NBC's broadcast of the third round of the Bay Hill Invitational, which featured Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, also was shown without interruption.
Military action near Baghdad intensified on Friday causing news coverage of the war to bump the NCAA Tournament on Thursday and Friday from CBS to ESPN. CBS was forced to turn over the early portion of Thursday's schedule to ESPN as well as most of the afternoon schedule on Friday.
ESPN and ESPN2 televised several games from the NCAA Women's Tournament on Saturday and will do the same on Sunday. Viacom networks TNN, TV Land, TNT and TBS could get men's games on Sunday if CBS switches to war coverage.
