Former President Barack Obama is a sports junky and a Chicago fan who would notoriously fill out March Madness tournament brackets for ESPN. And considering the level of knowledge he has about American sports, it indicates he spent way too much time keeping up with sports instead of doing his job as Commander-in-Chief.
In April 2015, following Super Bowl XLIX the New England Patriots were invited to the White House to celebrate their victory as per tradition. Tom Brady declined to go because he had a scheduling conflict with a “family obligation”.
Nobody bought his excuse, and for obvious reasons, but you can’t exactly question it, right? Now that the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2017, they have been invited to the White House once again.
But since Donald Trump is the President, some players have already declared they will not be going. Will that number change between now and then?
Breitbart reports:
“The New England Patriots became the first major pro sports franchise to win a championship during Donald Trump’s presidency.
So, it only makes sense that the Pats will be the first team to visit the White House, to be honored as champions.
Now, we know the exact date that event will take place. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the announcement from White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday afternoon:
White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced the Patriots will visit the White House on April 19.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2017
Of course, not all the Patriots will make the trip.
Some won’t attend for political reasons, some say they won’t attend for personal reasons.
Nonetheless, plenty of Patriots will make the trip.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, two friends of the president, presumably among them.
Though, Brady did not make the trip to the White House in [2015], and has not officially commented on whether or not he will attend this time.”
It’s fitting the Patriots are the first championship team across all sports teams to visit the White House this year because it’s no secret that owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady are supporters of Trump.
When a reporter noticed the patented red “Make America Great Again” Trump hat in Brady’s locker in September of 2015 – after he had declined Obama’s invitation to the White House – the media hounded his political affiliation unfairly.
Brady is talented at deflecting and has been unapologetically open about their friendship. He and Trump have been friends for a long time.
But President Trump might be especially loyal to owner Robert Kraft, who revealed something private about their relationship when his wife, Myra, passed away in 2011.
Robert Kraft revealed:
“When Myra died, Melania and Donald came up to the funeral in our synagogue, then they came for memorial week to visit with me.
Then he called me once a week for the whole year, the most depressing year of my life when I was down and out.
He called me every week to see how I was doing, invited me to things, tried to lift my spirits. He was one of five or six people that were like that. I remember that.”
That’s an amazing insight into President Trump’s care and loyalty.
But, of course, not all feel that way. The Patriots who have announced they won’t be attending are Martellus Bennett, Devin McCourty, Chris Long, LeGarrette Blount, Alan Branch and Dont’a Hightower.
Metaphorically, it’s beyond appropriate the first sports champions to visit under the Trump presidency are his close friends and hold the team name “The Patriots.” But how many other “Patriots” will follow the same decision of the initial six? We shall find out in April.
