Happy days are here for the Golden State Warriors, but will they visit the White House?
Another year, another Golden State Warriors Championship. That’s twice in the past three years that the ballers from the San Francisco Bay are NBA champs.
Not too surprising that the Warriors took back their crown that they lost to King James in 2016.
After a sports team wins the Super Bowl, World Series or NBA Championship traditionally the president invites them for a visit the White House. It’s a rite of passage. The president of the United States invites the owners, couches, and players of the winning team for a few congratulatory wise cracks. The media has fun with it and the owners of the victorious franchise present the president with signed jerseys and other memorabilia. The Warriors visited with President Obama at the White House two years ago when they won their first championship of now what could easily be four more years or more of dominance.
In terms of longevity, some believe that the Warriors might outlast the president himself.
Championship sports teams typically are thrilled to visit the White House. Fast forward to a President Trump administration and this could all change. Sure, today is all about celebrating an unprecedented 16-1 NBA playoff run and the team has not yet been invited for the traditional visit to Washington. The team has stated that they will decide when and if they are invited.
Twitter feeds have been blowing up on the issue. Judging by past comments from Coach Steve Kerr and mega-star Stephan Curry, both being vocal critics of President Trump, and now several sources close to the team claim that they have already voted unanimously to decline a visit to the White House
After winning the NBA Championship in 2015, the Warriors did meet with then President Obama
Many will agree that athletes and actors should stay out of politics. However, it does not bode well when an esteemed coach at the forefront of his sport, Steve Kerr has taken several jabs at the Trump administration’s penchant for incendiary rhetoric and aversion to facts. His criticism of Trump’s sought-after ban on immigrants from many Muslim countries in January was especially poignant.
Kerr stated, “If we’re trying to combat terrorism by banishing people from coming to this country, by really going against the principles of what our country is about and creating fear, it’s the wrong way to go about it,” Kerr continued. “If anything, we could be breeding anger and terror, so I’m completely against what’s happening. It’s shocking and it’s a horrible idea.”
Kerr speaks from a place of personal experience: His father, a professor, and president of the American University of Beirut was shot to death by an Islamic extremist group when Kerr was a freshman in college.
Then there is a monetary issue and how sponsors will react if the Warriors opt out of their duty to visit with the president. Consider the millions of dollars involved in advertising deals.
Likable, superstar Stephan Curry has been a vocal on his dislike of President Trump. Curry’s contract with Under Armour is one of the largest marketing deals in sports.
Kevin Durant has $34 million in endorsement income according to Forbes staff expert, Kurt Badenhausen. The Durant corporate bandwagon includes Nike, Panini, Beats, 2K Sports, and American Family Insurance. He too is probably going to look at his contract. Stephan Curry has huge ties and ownership with Under Armour for athletic wear.
How will sponsors react? What type of message will this send if sponsors and huge big name brands go against the president, siding with a Warriors squad that decides to not visit the White House?
It should be noted that President Trump did greet the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots earlier this year. The turnout was extremely underwhelming as many Patriot players chose not to meet with the president.
Stay tuned as this story will not go away until if and when the team gets their invite for a meet and greet with President Trump.