The Baltimore Orioles have once again divided Americans over The Star-Spangled Banner.
For the third time in as many seasons, whistling Hall of Famer (they exist) Chris Ullman performed the national anthem at Camden Yards before an O’s game.
This time, with the visiting San Francisco Giants on hand, Ullman received a brief ovation for his snappy rendition of the tune, which he’s also performed before Washington Nationals games.
Fans online, however, were less than pleased.
‘This cannot be real,’ one critic complained on X.
‘That was a tough watch,’ another added.
Champion whistler Chris Ullman did a snappy rendition of the anthem, but fans were split
Some took issue with his creative decisions during the song: ‘He did to (sic) much with it lol. Should have kept it simple.’
Meanwhile, another fan asked: ‘Didn’t they have another weirdo do the national anthem last year?’
Actually, that ‘weirdo’ was Ullman, who is a four-time whistling champion who appeared on the Today Show back in 1994 to share his talent.
‘I first met Chris in 1994 when he whistled on the Today Show,’ former NBC host Katie Couric was quoted as saying on Ullman’s website. ‘I was smiling then and he’s made me smile again with this sweet and heartwarming memoir.’
The memoir she’s referring to is titled, Find Your Whistle, and it’s described as a ‘heartwarming, hilarious and outrageous journey of a Washington and Wall Street insider who uses his simple gift to touch hearts and change lives.’
Aside from whistling, Ullman is an inspirational speaker and a communications professional, who has worked with the Carlyle Group, the White House Budget Office, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and the US House Budget Committee.
But while he’s a premier whistler, some fans prefer a more traditional rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.
‘Nothing irritates me more than whistling.’
As for the game, the Orioles pulled out a 6-2 win thanks to Gunnar Henderson’s sixth home run of the young season. The teams will be back at it on Sunday, with the Giants’ Adrian Houser taking the mound against Orioles hurler Cade Povich.
