only one team visited him in his first term | Relief

The Boston Celtics, taking advantage of the trip to Washington to play with the Wizards, They have made the routine visit to the White House to share the NBA title with President Joe Biden. A tradition that may be paralyzed in the next four years with the presence of Donald Trump in the presidency.

The team, led by Jayson Tatum and the MVP of the last finals, Jaylen Brown, appeared at the White House with all the players who were part of the ring available except for Svi Mykhailiuk, now with the Jazz. Even Oshae Brissett, a free agent who has been rumored for European clubs, made an appearance and took the opportunity to receive his championship ring. They enjoyed a private tour of the facilities, where they were able to see the famous Oval Office, before the ceremony in the Rose Garden. Biden was able to hold the trophy and dedicate a few words to the NBA champion team.

“Many of you don’t know it, but my code name with the Secret Service is Celtic, because I’m Irish,” said the still-president. “And those behind me are Irish at heart.” Biden praised the work of Tatum and Jaylen, but did not forget Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford or the coach, Joe Mazzulla, the youngest to do so since Bill Russell. And he left a phrase that will bring melancholy to the most veteran fans of the green franchise, quoting the great Red Auerbach: “The Celtics are more than a team, they are a lifestyle,” which the legendary coach used to say.

“For many of us it was the first time, and being part of a tradition that one has seen on television since childhood is something that I will always remember,” explained Jayson Tatum. It was Tatum, along with Derrick White, who was in charge of delivering a shirt to the president with the number 46 and leaving another for Vice President Kamala Harris. with 15.

One of those who had previously complied with the protocol was Jrue Holiday, who in 2021 visited Joe Biden with the Milwaukee Bucks. The visit of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team was the first after four years without making an appearance: between 2017 and 2020, Neither Steph Curry’s Warriors, nor LeBron James and the Lakers wanted to bring Larry O’Brien to the White House during Donald Trump’s first term. Neither did the Raptors, in 2019, who did visit Justin Trudeau in Ottawa (although in 1992 the Blue Jays visited the White House). The Cavaliers, in 2016, were the last team to do so before a pause caused by an exchange of words between Curry and Trump.

The Warriors point guard stated that he did not want to go to the White House, because “we do not support what our president has said or done, and we do not want to be seen as supporting him. Hopefully, people will be inspired by that decision,” he said. Curry. Not going was, finally, a decision of the entire locker room in consensus with Steve Kerr, but just a day later, It was Trump who, on Twitter, withdrew the invitation to the champion. “Going to the White House is considered an honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, so the invitation is withdrawn” he published in September 2017.

To make the matter more serious, The Warriors took advantage of the 2019 trip to Washington to visit Barack Obama’s officein an event organized privately by Steph Curry, a personal friend of the former president. The previous year, during their day in the capital, they went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture with young people from the Seat Pleasant neighborhood, in Maryland, where Kevin Durant grew up.

LeBron James, the other finalist in 2017 and 2018, also responded on Twitter to Trump’s original tweet: “You fool. Curry has already said he wasn’t going, so there’s no invitation! Going to the White House was an honor.” until you appeared” he said. James was faithful to his words and four years later, after winning the title with the Lakers, he did not go. They also couldn’t do it at the beginning of 2021, when Biden was already president. Basketball was the sport that had the greatest rivalry with Trump, since Since 2016, only a professional (NBA or WNBA) or university team has set foot in the office: Baylor University in 2019, signing a 1/14 among the champions. Numbers that will probably be repeated until 2028.

On the contrary, MLB and NHL champions went to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue every year. It was first the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburg Penguins in 2017, the Houston Astros in 2018, and the Boston Red Sox and Washington Capitals a year later that reached out to Trump.. Also, twice in addition, the New England Patriots made an appearance. Tom Brady has a personal relationship with Donald Trump, as does Robert Kraft, owner of the franchise, as do the champions of the college football tournament. Only basketball was planted, and the next champion is expected to do the same.