Donald Trump has gone nucleur on his adversaries in the sporting world over the past 24 hours. While appealing to his base during a stump speech for a Republican candidate for the Senate in Alabama on Friday evening, September 22, the President shocked many by suggesting that players who enact their First Amendment right to protest during the National Anthem ought to be fired on the spot. He was as crass as he's ever been during the fiery campaign-style events, saying that he'd like nothing more than for fans to walk out of the stadium and for owners to "get that son of a b***h off the field," as soon as someone takes a knee or sits as the Star Spangled Banner plays. But he wasn't done there. Those who by morning time still weren't over the outlandish proposition he had made in the p.m., woke up to yet another attack; this time on Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry for earlier stating that he'd prefer not to make a White House visit with the current President in office.
“Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn," Trump wrote in one of his daily morning tweets. His decision to withdraw the invitation came hours after the headlines for Golden State's media day, for the most part focused on the team's impending vote on whether or not to accept the President's invitation. It was a decision that they had collectively agreed would go the way of the squad's consensus, and Curry said he was willing to accept the team's choice no matter how he personally felt about it. But now that decision hangs in the balance, with question looming as to whether those who were intent upon going would do so now that Trump has cast Curry out.
By Friday night, scores of NFL players had come to Colin Kaepernick's defense over Trump's veiled shot at the NFL athlete-turned-activist. It remains to be seen whether and how the NBA might show its backing for Curry now.
