Sports in America was never a venue. It was always a cause of action that united people from all walks of life for a common goal of competition, unity and good sportsmanship. That all changed when President Trump called an NFL football player a SOB because he took a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Ever since Trump has be critical of sport and players alike with his usual personal attacks. The domino effect of Trump's unnecessary rhetoric shattered a White House tradition of inviting and honoring teams to the White House to celebrate their accomplishments without being political. It was America's sportsmanship at its best on display in the people's HOUSE.
Now, a new NFL season is about to begin and the world champion New England Patriots have still not been invited to the White House. Partially because many of the players said they would not attend because of Trump's personal attacks and treatment of other players. Trump made sports a political football because some players exercised their constitutional right and took a knee. Trump made things worse with his most recent rant about the girls U.S. Soccer team.
Sports, a unifying pastime and recognized by past Presidents as such and its positive effect has been replaced by Trump's political divisiveness and his desire to destroy those things that make America great. It is truly a mark of his cowardly acts, mental unfitness and his unfitness to serve as the President of the United States.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
