TRUMP VS ATHLETES IN WAR OF WORDS
NBA, NFL hit back after president’s tirade
LOS ANGELES
PRESIDENT Donald Trump triggered a backlash from the US professional sports world on Saturday after withdrawing a White House invitation to the NBA champions Golden State Warriors and condemning NFL players protesting the national anthem.
A day after Trump had decried activists, mostly African American National Football League players as “sons of bxxxxxx” for kneeling or sitting during renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the US leader turned his ire to basketball’s reigning champions and their top player Stephen Curry.
Curry said Friday he would not attend a White House reception if his team were invited in accordance with a tradition that stretches back several decades. Curry’s remarks followed similar comments by teammate Kevin Durant last month, who accused Trump of escalating racial tensions.
Trump responded with an early morning Twitter salvo on Saturday.
“Going to the White House is considered a great honour for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” he wrote.
Trump’s outburst drew a stinging response from across the NBA, with Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James among the first to weigh in.
“U bum @StephenCurry already said he ain’t going!” James wrote on Twitter. “So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honour until you showed up.”
The Warriors, meanwhile, said in a statement they would plan their own trip to Washington instead of going to the White House, making the visit a celebration of “equality, diversity and inclusion.”
Leading figures across the NBA have been among some of Trump’s most searing critics in the US professional sports world.
Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, said last month he would boycott any trip to the White House, taking aim at Trump’s response to racially charged violence in Charlottesville.
Trump’s spat with Curry and the Warriors came less than 24 hours after the president raged against NFL players who have protested the national anthem.
The NFL has seen a surge in activism by players since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year refused to stand for the national anthem that precedes each game in protest at law enforcement brutality toward minorities.
In a tirade in Alabama on Friday, Trump said players who protested during the anthem should be fired.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bxxxx off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired!’” Trump told a rally.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reacted with dismay to Trump’s comments.
“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players,” Goodell wrote.
But an unrepentant Trump doubled down on his criticism in further remarks on Twitter.
“If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!” Trump wrote.
In a later tweet, Trump condemned Goodell, accusing the NFL chief of trying to “justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country.”
“Tell them to stand!” Trump exhorted. AFP