A piece of advice for Roger Goodell, Adam Silver and any other sports official thinking of joining President Donald Trump at the White House this week for some party planning.
Read the room.
Trump’s goon squads are gunning down U.S. citizens and using a 5-year-old in a blue bunny hat as bait for their overreaching immigration raids. Much of the country is furious and looking for someone — anyone — to have a spine and say this is not OK. Now is not the time to be seen indulging Trump’s latest visions of grandeur, even if he claims they’re in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
The Athletic reported last week that the commissioners of the four major men’s sports were going to visit the White House, possibly as early as Tuesday, to hear Trump’s ideas for incorporating the leagues into plans for America 250. As anyone who has paid even the slightest bit of attention to this administration knows, the meeting would turn into surreality TV, with Trump inflating his accomplishments, airing his grievances and expecting the commissioners to fawn over him.
If they need convincing of how poorly that would go over with the general public right now, look at the reaction to Apple CEO Tim Cook going to the White House for movie night when Alex Pretti’s body was still warm.
