In defense of Rufus Wainwright, a Canadian-American who sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium prior to Game 5 of the World Series, mistakes happen.
It can be intimidating to sing in front of 40,000+ fans, and not many American fans seemed to notice Wainwright's clerical error.
A correct performance of the Canadian anthem on baseball's grandest stage is warranted and expected, especially given the current state of Canada-United States relations.
As
Wainwright surely knows the words or else he wouldn't have volunteered to sing the song in the first place, it's likely that he simply had an off moment.
Author's summary: Rufus Wainwright's mistake while singing O Canada at the World Series was understandable.