What was once an honour is now controversial
Before, anybody invited would’ve visited the White House with no questions asked. But now? It’s fair to say that people’s perceptions have changed.
After the elections, there has been talk surrounding whether it is proper to visit the White House and greet the new president. Recently, many athletes have made statements about whether or not they would go to the White House upon being asked. President Trump feuded with LeBron James over Twitter regarding this very topic.
Now, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins has joined the discussion, but he’s swimming against the current. The Canadian said that it is a “great honour” for him and his team to be invited to the White House.
His statement wouldn’t be a weird one to make under President Obama, but it is bizarre that Crosby showed his approval of visiting the White House the same time that Trump was calling any NFL player who kneels during the national anthem a “son of a bitch.”
Fellow professional athletes are coming together, acting against the government, and advocating for social justice in relation to police brutality.
Crosby’s statement sends a selfish message — that you should do what is in your best interest.
However, even if he said no to the White House invite, he would still receive backlash, this time from those supporting the current administration.
Despite everything, maybe it’s still respectable that Crosby voiced his true opinion and didn’t follow the majority just for the sake of it.
Perhaps it’s time to stop expecting all athletes to take a political stance, put this behind us and allow Crosby to do what he does best: play phenomenal hockey and crush opponents.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons