Today the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide football team visited the White House, providing no shortage of snark from media tripping over each other to remind people of the championship teams that, for political reasons, did not celebrate with President Donald Trump.
Some of the Tide's African-American players apparently did not know the president is a so-called "racist." They were actually having fun (note above photo) and enjoying a visit to the Oval Office that they may or may not ever experience again. Christian Miller and Jalen Hurts (both African-Americans) tweeted a selfie of themselves with President Trump. Jerry Jeudy tweeted a photo of him standing at the presidential podium describing himself as the "First Black President with Dreads."
“It’s an incredible honor for us to be invited to the White House,” said African-American running back Damien Harris. “It’s something that comes with being national champions, so we’re definitely thankful for the opportunity.”
Alabama Coach Nick Saban addressed the political issue with the team ahead of the White House celebration. Offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher said:
“Coach Saban addressed it and just said, ‘Hey, we’re doing this regardless of your political thoughts,’ We’re going, just to celebrate this team. It’s an honor. And just to be able to say that you’ve gone to the White House is something that you can cherish forever.’ So that was basically the extent of that.”
Several members of the media who reported on the celebration came off as small-minded and petty compared to the Alabama student athletes.
David Nakamura and Cindy Boren, of The Washington Post, said other teams have expressed "unease" about visiting Trump. They dragged the NFL into their story:
"Trump had attended the game in Atlanta in January, appearing on the field for the playing of the national anthem and the presentation of the American flag. It was a gesture that came after the president engaged in a season-long fight with the National Football League over the demonstrations by some players who knelt during the anthem to protest police brutality, something Trump called disrespectful to the country."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote: "Some recent sports champions -- most notably the Golden State Warriors of the NBA -- haven’t visited the White House because of political views differing from those of President Donald Trump."
Charlie Potter of 247 Sports included a quote from Bama linebacker Terrell Lewis saying: "A lot of guys weren’t really tripping off of this situation of going to the White House. ... OK, we’re not going for whatever the political problems are or the president. It’s mainly an honor being at the White House.”
Adam Wells of the liberal Bleacher Report made an issue out of how much of the national championship game President Trump actually watched back in January. He attended the first half and then left to return to Washington. Wells posted a tweet by Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post, who said Trump isn't staying on Air Force One to watch overtime. Now that's getting petty!
Arthur Jones II of CBS Sports wrote: "Sports teams have compiled a mixed record under Mr. Trump when it comes to the tradition of winning teams visiting the White House. The World Series champion Houston Astros met with President Trump last month, but the NBA champion Golden State Warriors had their invitation revoked last summer via an angry tweet from the president after two-time MVP Stephen Curry indicated he'd rather not go."
Deadspin editor David Roth complained that it seems like Trump has been president forever and mocked him for "weirdly" saying "Roll Tide." He also complained that the president's "famed football insights are otherwise pretty light on the ground." Dare I say "petty" again?
The Washington Post writers did include a paragraph on how Trump had one-upped former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush by inviting Saban, Alabama President Stuart R. Bell and Athletic Director Greg Byrne into the Oval Office before the team ceremony on the South Lawn.
