By Heath Kalb ’18
With the recent election in which Donald Trump became president, the century old tradition of sports teams meeting the president at the White House following a championship has come under controversy.
After the last MLB season, the World Series champion Chicago Cubs hurried to meet with President Obama just four days before he left office. In a normal year, the Cubs would have waited months, typically until the next season to meet the president.
This is presumably because over the past election season and Trump’s brief political career his stances on social issues have garnered much dislike and has contributed to him having historically low approval ratings. Due to this, many athletes have joined the chorus of Americans speaking out over his policies.
And this isn’t limited to baseball; the first major team to win a championship since the inauguration was the New England Patriots. Even as the team is still making plans to visit the White House, at least six players have already came out to boycott the typically joyous and prideful day.
Thus far, tight end Martellus Bennett, safety Devin McCourty, running back LeGarrette Blount, defensive end Chris Long, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and defensive tackle Alan Branch have all already publicly said they won’t attend.
Personally I feel as though these players are doing the right thing. This is their right to protest and they are setting a good example for the youth of this nation to stand up for what you believe in. I also assume with great certainty that there are other players on the Patriots 53 man roster that have strong opinions about the President and I wouldn’t doubt it if more players joined the boycott.
Whether you agree with Trump’s policies or not, please don’t lose respect or your fandom for these athletes. They have worked tirelessly to get to the positions that they are in and have earned the freedom to make this decision.
For the players, coaches and other staff on the Patriots who do side with Trump or aren’t against him enough to protest meeting with him then good for them. They get to partake in a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Hopefully the players, coaches and ownership of the Patriots who have no problem associating with the president don’t hurt their relationships with the one’s protesting. This goes for the fans as well. I know patriots and sports fans in general from all walks of life and disagreements have already begun. Sports is something that is supposed to unite us, not divide us even more in an already divided nation.
