President Donald Trump apparently wasn't done with athletes after discussing national anthem protests as "disrespect", saying that he would love to see an NFL owner "get that son of a bitch off the field."
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The Warriors are expected to decide on whether they are going as a team, and star point guard Stephen Curry maintained his stance that he does not want to attend, but apparently they're not invited any longer.
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
"I don't want to go," Curry said according to USA Today. "That's kind of the nucleus of my belief...(But) it's not just me going to the White House. If it was, this would be a pretty short conversation."
Curry said he and his teammates don't stand for the same things as President Donald Trump.
"That we don't stand for basically what our President has - the things that he's said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times, that we won't stand for it," Curry said. "And by acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to. It's not just the act of not going there. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion.
"(Athletes are) all trying to do what we can. We're using our platorms, using our opportunities to shed light on that, so that's kind of where I stand on it. I don't think us not going to the White House is going to miraculously make everything better, but this is my opportunity to voice that."
General Manager Bob Myers said the decision deserves a conversation, and forward Draymond Green said they will get together as a team and discuss whether they make the trip.
The Warriors, from Steve Kerr to Kevin Durant, had already been pretty clear that they weren’t going to go to WH if invited anyway.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) September 23, 2017
The New England Patriots made the trip after winning the Super Bowl, but several players decided to skip the visit. Obviously a basketball team is much smaller, so if several players don't want to go and decide to skip, and it would much more noticeable.
If the Warriors do decide to skip out on the trip, it could start a trend among pro sports champions who have players and coaches that don't approve of the president—whether it's Trump or another in the future.
As for the NFL and they're protests, Colin Kaepernick's mother responded to the comments from the President after her son helped lead the charge on national anthem protests last year:
https://twitter.com/nick_ramsey/status/911391835888726017
Trump: Wouldn’t you love one of the NFL owners when someone disrespects our flag, "get that son of a bitch off the field right now"
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 23, 2017
The full quote from Trump:
"Wouldn't you love one of these NFL owners... when someone disrespects our flag say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field, right now, out, he's fired."
In reaction, NFL players have responded, and they're apparently not planning on stepping aside quietly:
#Kaepernick we riding with you bro ✊🏾
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) September 23, 2017
I can’t take anything our Celebrity in Chief says seriously. He’s a real life clown/troll 🤡
— George Iloka (@George_iloka) September 23, 2017
I stand on the side of free, non-hateful speech. EVERY SINGLE TIME!
— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) September 23, 2017
"They're friends of mine, many of them."
Now we know why Kap ain't playin. #IStandWithKap https://t.co/Vzn5HSCS1K
— Husain Abdullah (@HAbdullah39) September 23, 2017
Does anyone tell trump to stick to politics, like they tell us to stick to sports? Smh.
— Ebron85 (@Ebron85) September 23, 2017
Definition of a clown! 🤡 pic.twitter.com/tF3r5Z27nq
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) September 23, 2017
Unbelievable what he just said!! https://t.co/K5H58E3h43
— FILFL (@CecilShortsIII) September 23, 2017
What an emphatic response, where was this passion in response to Charlottesville...🤔 https://t.co/OkVZTdloXx
— it’s just max. (@MGarcia_76) September 23, 2017
Smh! Gives more reason https://t.co/TyVCJgQK0L
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43) September 23, 2017
Continue to use your voices and your platforms for racial equality and to stop injustices in our communities. This is bigger than us!!! ✊🏿
— Michael Thomas (@Michael31Thomas) September 23, 2017
Mr 45.... I just can't believe this guy is bold enough to say some of the things that he does.
— STEDMAN BAILEY SR (@iamSB3) September 23, 2017
— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh) September 23, 2017
New NFL statement pic.twitter.com/XHPgVvPPfH
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) September 23, 2017
"The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we've experienced over the last month. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming forced for good our clubs and players represent in our communities."
The live crowd applauded the comments from the President.
Trump also referenced NFL ratings, which are down so far this year, and blamed the drop on the protests negatively affecting the game.
The clear shot here seems to be taken at former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was the driving force behind the protests last year. Many players across many different teams and sports have since joined in on the protest during the anthem, generating a clear controversy between two sides of the country.
We'll see how many turn around and join the protests after these Trump's comments.
(h/t USA Today)
