It has not been a full day since the Warriors captured their second NBA title in three seasons but the attention has quickly steered to the team’s possible visit to the White House. Traditionally, American sports team that capture their respective league’s championship are extended an offer to visit the president in Washington — but the controversy surrounding the current Trump administration will likely prevent that.
There have been reports that the Warriors may unanimously reject an offer, citing issues with president Donald Trump and his administration. Sam Amick of USA TODAY spoke with Warriors sixth man Andre Iguodala about a potential visit and he provided an entertaining response.
“Maybe (Trump) doesn’t (invite us) and we don’t go, or we don’t say anything and make a big deal of it, and he doesn’t make a big deal of it and we go our separate ways,” Iguodala said. “Y’all might write about it. I might call him and say, ‘If they ask, just say our schedules conflicted.’ And then if y’all write something, we’ll say, ‘Fake News.’ ”
Aside from Iguodala, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, two-time MVP Stephen Curry, and several other Warriors have been critical of the president. However, issues with politics has not prevented other White House visits — Trump welcomed the 2017 Super Bowl champion Patriots earlier this year and just this week, welcomed the 2016 NCAA champion Clemson football team.
The Warriors previously visited the White House and then-president Barack Obama after winning the 2014/15 NBA championship. There has been no official word from the Warriors or the White House, and while a lot can change, it’s highly unlikely the Warriors will meet the current commander-in-chief.
Who cares? They went there 2 years ago. The second time it’s not a big deal. Let them refuse because of their opinion of a president, it just makes them loot petty as you can’t fix things if you refuse to be part of he conversation.
If I were in their shoes I wouldn’t want to go either.
If you’re outspoken against a political leader who is quite frankly a bigot, then why go visit them for the sake of formality? Its a bad day when ethics take a back seat to tradition.
There is no “conversation” situation here, this isn’t a political visit. By declining to go makes a stronger statement in this alleged “conversation” anyway. Visiting the white house could make them look like fakers who don’t stand up for what they believe in morally if its done in the traditional manner.
Think about what is actually changes if they don’t go. Jordan has not gone before. Bird hasn’t gone before. Brady missed the Pats visit this year. Roy Williams may not go. The 2013 Seminoles didn’t go after they won a championship.
It really doesn’t do much to not show up. It is a photo opportunity for all sides. Thinking they are making some grand political statement by showing up the President is probably not what is actually happening and most know it.
If they want the photo op, like I am sure a guy like Dabo Swinney did, then go. If you don’t then don’t. But lets not pretend it makes an actual political statement.
They aren’t politicians. They wouldn’t be invited to discuss policies. Just smile and take a pic with the President who probably doesn’t even know most of their names.
Even more reason not to go
Clemson went and President Trump addressed certain players by name. So don’t give me any of that doesn’t know their names crap
um, you realize he doesn’t write his own speeches, right?
Neither did Obama
But at least Obama knows how to read
I meant that Trump probably doesn’t know their names because he isn’t (or doesn’t appear to be) much of a basketball fan. Obviously, if the team were to come I would expect him to know the names of a few of the players and Kerr by that time.
This has nothing to do with politics. People don’t like Trump’s immature, vindictive, lack of self-control, selfish, petty, narcissistic, insensitive, and ignorant behavior.
Trump’s conduct has been reprehensible; conduct unbecoming of a POTUS. Why should anyone show respect to him by attending some PR function?
It’s funny how a rich white guy, who becomes POTUS, is allowed to say and do whatever he wants and get away with it. Yet people are slammed for “disrespectful” comments or acts when they criticize his behavior. Again this has nothing to do with politics. I didn’t agree with anything Dubya did as President, but I respected, even liked him personally. Certain people need to wake up from this “Fuhrer” effect. Trump is a sick man.
Obama lied about the wars ending and Bush lied about why we went to Iraq and yet Trump is the “sick man”?
Let’s take it for what it is. Trump is the same as every politician before him. The difference is he isn’t a career one so instead of painting on that lie every day, he says some things that rub people the wrong way. But I am still sitting here and wondering what makes him this “Fuhrer”. We still live in a free nation. He hasn’t restricted our rights.
What has he done to be this awful person?
No, Trump is not the same. You are terrible misinformed. Read his tweets for a week or two; the guy is insane.
Big difference between a politician not coming thru with a campaign promise vs the words you say LITERALLY being a proven lie the moment the words come out your mouth. Trump says things as if we live in an alternate reality where we don’t have things like “books”, “video taped interviews” or “google”. 5 minutes after an interview the media can point you to proof that he just lied. And I don’t mean opinions or as he says “fake news”. I mean literally, you can see or hear with your own ears and eyes that he just told a lie.
But again, hasn’t actually done anything. Also, I don’t use Twitter as a news source or a way to get my opinions of people. If you use Twitter or most social media to gauge who a person is, you are likely getting what they want you to think. Not what they actually are.
Twitter are the thoughts and words of the President. In fact, they will preserved as official statements of the Pres and kept for posterity and historical purposes. I was taught that if a person tells you who they are then you need to listen. If he’s not a racist then he sure didn’t mind allowing people to think he might be and to me that’s just as bad. What you say and do to attract votes from the worse people in the world speaks volumes.
Stick to sports…you will feel better.
Lol… “Fake news”. Iggy with a solid comment right there. I bet if u took a unanimous pole of professional athletes over 50% don’t vote. So honestly who gives a $h1t!
Fake news is awesome! You can say who cares but I think it would be a tremendous statement by the team if they are invited to the White House by the President of the United States and they turn him down. There are leaders of foreign countries begging for a chance to sit with the President.
But knowing this is how the warriors feel I imagine Trump will save himself the humiliation and not extend an invitation.
Don’t worry Warriors. Trump should not be in office much longer. He will be fired soon enough.
Keep sipping that Haterade
Honestly though I don’t see him lasting past the 1 year mark of his inauguration. If you want to call it a witch hunt, fine whatever. I would disagree. But even so, he chances it becomes a successful witch hunt seem to be pretty high considering the sheer amount of circumstantial evidence. Someone has to discover something big sometime, right?
So good
Good for them. How Iguodala can expect him not to make a big deal out of them not going is beyond me. I’d say has he met the guy, but clearly he hasn’t and doesn’t want to haha.
Trump may be bad but he’s still better than Obama or Hillary into
This is coming from an independent/libertarian who doesn’t understand the infatuation with Obama who everyone used as a scapegoat
How is Trump “better”? Name one thing he’s done that has helped you or people like you. Basically, if you’re not a billionaire, millionaire, CEO, banker or hedge fund manager, you’ve lost all representation in the executive branch of this country.
What did Obama or Hillary do for me or people like me?
Who is your healthcare thru? Where do you work?
The ironic thing is most people who voted for Trump benefit more from a democrat in office on basic principle.
Obama did his best to look out for working class people. From consumer protection, affordable healthcare, environmental protection, student loan relief and free community college. All of these things were enacted or expanded under Obama, and currently being cancelled by Trump to help pay for his proposed tax cuts for corporations and millionaires/billionaires. Obama would have done more, but the Republicans were more interested in blocking any legislation he proposed, even bills written by Republicans. The GOP would rather destroy the country than actually govern with Democrats like they’re supposed to.
The government should not be giving funds to these people because they do not work…. they can’t provide for themselves because they are busy getting in trouble with the police.
George W the GOAT though
Zzzzzzz. Petulant spoiled athletes. Andre Iguodala….. ???? REALLY. Fake player.
And what does that make Trump?
Can we just block comments altogether on articles like this?
Or you could, you know, not read the comments. Easy fix there.
Novel stuff, thanks for that
Steph Curry looks like Donald Trump
FAKE NEWS. Bullies exaggerate a baseless claim in such a way that you feel you can’t or shouldn’t disagree. First, It’s just not important whether they visit the WH. Second, this is meant to give an impression that everyone agrees. From only Iggy’s comments you deduced that all would turn down the opportunity?
I’m sick of this stuff. This is not the kind of thing I want to leave to my children; that you would stop everything, compromise your values, alter your very way of thinking, all because you don’t like someone.
How is this “fake news”? I’m so sick of the misuse of this term. “Fake news” is a baseless and imaginary story that can be proven with facts or at least a preponderance of circumstantial evidence. In this case, several players and Steve Kerr indicated they weren’t going to go if invited. Is it hard to imagine that? A team whose entire roster is made of African American’s aside from Zaza? Steve Kerr was very critical of the President too. I would be shocked if it wasn’t all or none of the team that went, if an invite was extended, and in my guess, for obvious reasons, it won’t be,
Of course you don’t see it, you want it to happen. It would support your view.
Only a fool would say that because you made a critical statement then you would… and further others would… too. You’re guessing. But the point of the headline is to promote a desire. What it actually does is send half your audience home wondering ‘how can I escape even the invasion of sports with politics.’
You lost me sir. In case you haven’t heard there are several players that indicated they wouldn’t go. Why is hard to imagine that a close knit team of African American players (aside from Zaza) wouldn’t band together and agree not to go? It’s not an IMPORTANT story to me but that doesn’t mean it’s “fake news”.
Of course you’re lost, you’re treating the story as if it’s just another bit of information for your day. Instead of seeing the inference of it. But my objective here is to make fun of the purpose of the piece and not a running argument with you. This headline is predictive. The point is to say, “See how outrageous you are! Even the GSW are willing to show their contempt.”