Time to Cut Tradition of Sports Teams Visiting the White House

Breitbart ^ | February 13, 2017 | Robert J Marlow

[C19fan]

Considering the times in which we now live, maybe it’s not such a good idea for presidents to invite sports teams to the White House, suggests Mitch Albom.

[C19fan]

Reagan was the one who started regularly inviting championship teams to the White House. Not much of "tradition" in my book. Reagan also was the one who started inviting and citing people at the State of the Union speeches. That has gotten out of control too.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Invite all of those who want to come to the annual Easter egg roll and call that good.

[C19fan]

I remember the President would make a congratulatory phone call and that would end it.

[RoseofTexas]

Just invited the owners only quietly and if they accept the invitation wonderful if not that’s fine.

[relictele]

Absolutely correct on both counts.

The ‘presidential jersey’ is a horrid, tiresome cliche by now.

Yes, Reagan did it well but in contradiction to his philosophy it emphasized the centrality of government in all things, even leisure activities. Frankly I always thought it had a whiff of Cuba or North Korea about it.

The State Of The Union has become so bloated in content and in media coverage that it should be killed off immediately. George Will doesn’t get much correct these days but he has long advocated for a president to go the Thomas Jefferson route and simply send a terse letter to Congress.

[colorado tanker]

There have always been players who for one reason or another didn’t go. No reason to kill the tradition just because the media haters are having an orgasm over this year’s no-shows.

[Ticonderoga34]

George Will doesn’t get much correct these days but he has long advocated for a president to go the Thomas Jefferson route and simply send a terse letter to Congress.

Wow, something I agree with George Will with. A President makes a State of the Union address to Congress and then the next day everybody in DC forgets about it and goes back to what they were doing. Just send a letter.

[Lexington Green]

Patriots in the NFL? Who knew?

[Defiant]

It would be bad optics for Trump to end it because the libs shamed the athletes into not showing up. Makes him look umpopular and so far outside what's acceptable that he can't be visited. You know the libs will have a joyous celebration, reported breathlessly, the next time they have someone in the White House. If someone doesn't show, it won't be reported. It may be time to end it, but Trump may not be the one to do it. Maybe Pence in 2024.

Instead, he should make it so great for those who come to the White House that those who stupidly stay away are jealous. Tours, great food, special mementos, some other perks, those should be used to entice stragglers that a Championship Celebration is not the place for politics.

[Theoria]

And the Presidential salute. Another recent tradition.

[SauronOfMordor]

Go even better than Jefferson, and post the State of the Union on the WH website. Or tweet it.

[jjotto]

A lot of presidents before Reagan invited champion athletes and teams to the White House, depending on their interest. Reagan seems to have genuinely liked all kind of sports. He even announced an inning or two for the Cubs while he was president.

Since we’ve made sports political, no reason not to skip the visits. Seems like another loss in the culture war.

The ceremonial first pitch is another odd presidential custom, although Carter and Obama skipped most of their opportunities.

[JimRed]

Mitch Albom? Isn’t he some lefty who used to be on the radio?

[rfp1234]

Stop inviting rappers and actors, too.