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The article discusses the history of "The Star-Spangled Banner" national anthem in the U.S. which was created when the poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry" by lyricist Francis Scott Key was set to the tune of the drinking song "The Anacreontic Song" by writer John Stafford Smith in 1814. The meaning of America's national anthem is examined, along with quarterback Colin Kaepernick's anthem-related protests and the relationship between sports and "The Star-Spangled Banner" song.

The article discusses how Olympic figure skaters choose the music that plays while they are competing, and it mentions how many skaters spend the three year between Olympic seasons trying out different types of music to match the choreography of their skating routines. Athletes such as Mariah Bell and Adam Rippon are assessed, along with songs such as "River Flows in You" by composer Yiruma and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The article discusses how various college gymnasts are incorporating popular music and political messages into their gymnastics floor routines, and it mentions athlete Margzetta Frazier's use of voguing songs and drag culture, as well as gymnast Trinity Thomas' use of music from the streaming television program "Squid Game" in her routine.

The article discusses the Bahamian music group the Baha Men and their 2000 Grammy Award-winning song "Who Let the Dogs Out." Topics include the adoption of the song by U.S. athletes and sports teams as their anthem to be played at sporting events, music producer and Mercury Records executive Steve Greenberg's convincing of the group to sing the song, and Greenberg's hiring of Fred Traube to market the song to stadium entertainment directors.

The author offers opinions on popular music songs whose lyrics deal with sports. A rating is presented of the 40 best such songs as evaluated by the author, and a brief description is offered of the lyrics and the specific sport, athlete or sports event with which they are concerned. The folk song "Who Killed Davey Moore," by Bob Dylan, written in 1963, is selected as the best sports song lyric.

The article discusses the relationship between music and college football in America as of 2017, and it mentions the author's views about various songs such as "Enter Sandman" and "This Is It" by Kenny Loggins, as well as the music that should be playing when a person dies. U.S. college marching band music is addressed, along with the sports-related memories that are associated with music releases such as "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Sweet Caroline."

The article presents wit and humor on sports. The literary device of imaginary sports-based video games which failed as products is used to mock aspects of sports seen as excessive or tedious including the music played at sports stadiums and arenas, football player Chad Ochocinco and sports team mascots.

The article discusses the relationship between jazz music and the sports of basketball, and it mentions the collaborative and improvisational aspects of American basketball which was exported around the world. Latvian basketball player Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knickerbockers team is examined, along with self-expression. Names of music bands such as Pearl Jam and Lynyrd Skynyrd are examined in relation to former basketball player Mookie Blaylock and ex-basketball coach Leonard Skinner.

A review is presented of a concert of music whose themes dealt with sports presented by the musical group American Modern Ensemble held in Brooklyn, New York.

The article focuses on the alternative rock music group The Baseball Project. The group's two album sound recordings "Volume 1: Frozen Ropes & Dying Quails" and "Volume 2: High & Inside," both of which have songs whose lyrics are exclusively about baseball, are discussed. Members of the group describe their experiences throwing out ceremonial first pitches at major and minor league baseball games.

An introduction is presented to an article rating the best popular music songs about sports published in this issue.

The article cites the requirements needed in hitting high notes in opera which also apply to athletics. First is strength which refers to increasing the resistance to air passing through the throat by contracting the upper abdominal muscles. It also says that singing needs ear-throat coordination just like baseball and basketball require hand-eye coordination. Baritone Sherrill Milnes notes that singing also needed the same stamina as cross-country running.

The author ponders on the lack of country songs that feature sporting themes in 1976. He enumerates several country song titles that feature sports phrases including "I Went With the Pitch," "Desire is 50% of the Game," and "You Sure Established Your Running Game." He also offers information on the success of the music release "The Last Game of the Season," by David Geddes.