I think one thing we were all expecting from a Trump administration is exactly what we are getting now: despite nuclear war fears and hurricanes and earthquakes and health care and the budget, the number one item on all the news sites is the Twitter fight between Trump and LeBron James.
James: Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
This particular fight is touchy because of the racial structure of the NBA and NFL, in which mostly white owners and fans depend on the heroics of mostly black athletes. This is why the NFL ownership has been so careful not to say anything substantive about Star Spangled Banner protests and the like, and why the NBA bounced a white owner for making racist comments to a hot mic a few years ago: the last thing they want is a racial blow-up. And here comes Trump with his bull in a China shop routine.
Look for NBA owners to spend the next few weeks on vacation, or hiding under their desks.
Predictions on outcome:
ReplyDelete1. NFL ratings tank. A good thing.
2. Opinions regarding police tactics and race become more entrenched making change harder than it already is. A very, bad thing.
3. We cease playing the National Anthem at sporting events. A good thing. How did this tradition start? What's the point of it?