A Reds player and Pirates reliever got into an epic national anthem standoff

Classic!

Ah, the national anthem standoff. An all-time funny/epic/absurd contest of wills in Major League Baseball to see who will blink first and head to the dugout in a modified game of chicken.

This one involves Cincinnati Reds utility man Alex Blandino and Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Luis Oviedo, who stayed standing in front of their dugouts for a looooong time after the national anthem at PNC Park until home-plate umpire Chris Conroy told them to move it along. Even then, they didn’t move … and then Oviedo finally started moving.

It’s a win for Blandino, and really for all of us, because this is so fun.

Bravo, gentlemen.

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