I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. I have something good to say about the Philadelphia Eagles about as often as Philly fans speak well of the Cowboys -- pretty close to never. But today is different.
Donald Trump had invited the Eagles players to the White House. For him, it was a photo op, and likely another event where he could denigrate NFL players for having the audacity to exercise their free speech rights. But he cancelled the event after learning that 10 (or less) players were going to attend the event.
Trump then tweeted that staying in the locker room was as disrespectful as kneeling to the country. His inference that those players were being disrespectful to the flag, our soldiers, and the country is patently ridiculous. The Eagles were one of only 7 NFL teams that had no player kneel during the anthem (or stay in the locker room).
But their not kneeling didn't mean they didn't agree with the players who did kneel, or the reason why they kneeled (police violence against Blacks). And those players also knew that Trump was a racist/white supremacist and a misogynist, and they didn't want to be associated with him. They didn't want him to use them to spread his campaign of hate.
By refusing to go to the White House, the players were calling Trump out on his racism and misogyny -- and Trump narcissism couldn't take that. He couldn't take being embarrassed on the national stage. That's the real reason he cancelled their visit. It had nothing to do with "respecting the flag".
I applaud the decision of the Eagles players to not go to the White House. And I admire their standing up for what is right and good in this country -- and refusing to be used by Trump to further divide the country. And I heartily approve of their refusing to be used as a tool against their fellow players and the game they love.
Inclosing, let me also say I think Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kennedy hit the nail right on the head when he said:
