WS Chronicle

By James B. Ewers Jr. 

The new president of the United States of America is always in the middle of chaos and confusion.

This time it involves two professional sports, basketball and football.

Just recently, Stephen Curry of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors was extended an invitation to visit the White House. After thinking about it, he decided to decline the invitation. Around the same time, the White House withdrew the invitation.

Did Curry care? What do you think? Subsequently, the Golden State Warriors decided to forego their visit.

I believe it is possible that the Warriors organization didn’t want to be around a toxic environment that is called the White House.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, “Trump was going to break up with us before we could break up with him.”

Kerr added, “Isn’t it you who must honor the White House, Mr. President?”

I would opine that the 45th president took on the wrong opponent both philosophically and socially. Men like Curry, Kerr and Draymond Green aren’t going to be race-baited when it comes to issues of social justice.

They all know about his responses to the tragedy in Charlottesville and his good people on both sides comment.

What the 45th president doesn’t understand either is that professional athletes, while combatants on the field, are brothers off the field.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers just recently called the president “a bum.” I really believe Mr. T underestimates the power and influence of professional sports.

I suspect if you asked a young boy or girl to name a basketball player or a president, they would probably first name the basketball player.

In some ways a bit sad, but it shows what many of our young people are thinking about these days.

Of course, the current president isn’t helping himself be remembered by his antics and actions. Whoever heard of a president of the United States of America using Twitter to express himself, especially at the midnight hour.

If President Barack Obama had used the Oval Office for his personal Twitter rants, he would have been impeached quick, fast and in a hurry!

Now, unfortunately, the American people have gotten so attuned to it, they think nothing of it.

Many of us think it embarrasses the Office of The President.

[On Sept. 22] the 45th president was in Alabama among his base of supporters and called NFL players who took a knee for the playing of the national anthem a vulgarity that I won’t write in this space. And he said they should be fired.

These comments started a firestorm. Owners and players showed their unity by locking arms.

Owners like Shad Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons stood firm with their players.

Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL said, “The way we reacted today and over the weekend, made me proud.”

These reactions all started last season when Colin Kaepernick, then quarterback of the San Francisco 49’ers took a knee during the national anthem.

Going forward, there will be more demonstrations and kneeling over this issue.

Don’t be surprised at what you see as the NBA season is about to begin. The same holds true for upcoming NCAA football and basketball games. Just stay tuned!

Because of his penchant for creating acrimony, the 45th president is being called by many the divider-in-chief.

Some say he can do no wrong. Others say he is just plain wrong.

James B. Ewers  Jr. Ed.D. is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem and played college tennis at Johnson C. Smith University, where he was all-conference for four years. He is a retired college administrator.  He can be reached at ewers.jr56@yahoo.com.