Donald Trump yesterday told the crowd at a New Hampshire rally that Patriots QB Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick have "both endorsed him for president," according to Igor Bobic of the HUFFINGTON POST. Trump said of Brady, "He called today and he said, ‘Donald, I support you, you’re my friend, and I voted for you.'" Trump then "pulled out a letter he said was from Belichick, which he read onstage." The letter read, "Congratulations on a tremendous campaign. You have dealt with an unbelievable slanted and negative media and have come out beautifully. You’ve proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter." Bobic noted it is "unclear whether Brady has voted." In an interview earlier yesterday, he said that he "hadn’t yet cast his ballot" (HUFFINGTON POST.com, 11/7). Trump later asked the crowd, "By the way, is there a better reference than Tom Brady and Bill Belichick? I don’t think so" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/8). Boston-based WBZ-CBS Sports Dir Steve Burton on Twitter this morning wrote Belichick "did indeed" write a letter to Trump. Burton: "The letter Trump read from Belichick is accurate. Those were Bill's words" (TWITTER.com, 11/8). However, in N.Y., Daniel Harper notes Brady's wife, Gisele Bunchen, late last week on Instagram wrote that the couple is "not supporting" Trump (NYPOST.com, 11/8).
THEY'RE WITH HER: President Obama spoke yesterday at a Hillary Clinton campaign rally in Ann Arbor, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was "in attendance" along with AD Warde Manuel (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/8). Harbaugh said of Obama, "He’s great. Thought it was tremendous he gave our team a shout-out" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/8). Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Gery Woelfel notes there have been "increasing whispers" that if Clinton is elected, Bucks co-Owner Marc Lasry "may relinquish" some of his duties with the team. It is "no secret Lasry is a staunch Democrat and strong supporter of both Hillary and former President Bill Clinton." Earlier this year, Lasry "participated in the Portfolios with Purpose stock contest, where the competitors play on behalf of their favorite charities." The Clinton Foundation "was Lasry’s choice." He also serves on the The Clinton Global Initiative BOD. This "isn’t the first time Lasry’s name has surfaced for a potential government position." In '13, he was "under consideration to be the United States’ ambassador to France." But he "withdrew his name, reportedly because of business considerations" (Racine JOURNAL TIMES, 11/8).
STICK TO SPORTS? In Boston, Christopher Gasper notes an athlete like Cavaliers F LeBron James, who has endorsed Clinton, "using his celebrity for political purposes is anathema to some sports fans." Fans "want sports as apolitical as possible." The sports world is viewed as an "escape from the charged debates, vexing social issues, and ceaseless recriminations that fill American politics." But sports "don’t exist apart from the real world, and the reality is that sports and politics are too similar not to mix." Gasper: "Just because James is a franchise player that doesn’t mean he is qualified to tell people what to do with their franchise. But the athlete who is willing to put himself or herself out there with a view that could alienate some of their fans and upset their brands has my respect. That includes athletes whose beliefs and opinions may not be ones I share" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/8). SPORTS ON EARTH's Mike Lupica wrote what James did "matters." Lupica: "Nobody told LeBron to pick this particular lane, or this candidate. Nobody gets to tell him that. He picked one on his own. This election matters. So what he did matters" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 11/7).
