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By: Marquise Drayton (’19), Staff Writer
“Hell yeah, hell yeah. We supposed to be. We don’t fuck with him.” 2017 NBA Champion & Finals MVP Kevin Durant said this when asked about the league’s opinion on the current US President. While parading with the Larry O’Brien Trophy back home in PG County, questions arose about if his Golden State Warriors will visit the president to celebrate their recent title. A tradition dating back to August 1865, U.S. sport teams are annually invited to the White House after winning a major championship. These teams have ranged from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and NCAA. Although it’s such a high honor, many are saying no to President Trump’s invite. The major reason for this opposition can be political and personal, as his views don’t mirror a fair and inclusive America that most value. For example, while America offers citizenship to every ethnicity, Trump wants to build a wall against Mexicans and impose travel bans on Muslims.
Yet it’s not the first time a player or team has refused to travel to D.C. Baltimore Ravens Center Matt Birk didn’t join his teammates in 2013 after they won Super Bowl XLVII because he disagreed with Obama’s support for Planned Parenthood. A great friend of Trump before he took office, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady was a surprising no-show at his team’s April 2017 visit. The message is becoming clearer that they do not want to associate themselves with such a provocative figure. So far, Trump’s been visited by the Patriots, Clemson Tigers, and now the Pittsburgh Penguins have accepted his request. But the Warriors declined to see him after their invitation was withdrawn, USC Women’s Basketball 2017 National Championship Team hasn’t receive an invitation still and our own UNC Men’s Basketball 2017 National Championship Team has declined due to scheduling conflict. However, head coach Roy Williams wasn’t even supportive of Trump back in March 2017 when commenting on his inappropriate social media habits. From kneeling knees to rejecting pleas, players are using their mouths along with their bodies to express their First Amendment rights in opposition to Donald Trump.
