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Warriors Say No Decision Made On White House Should Invitation Come

The Warriors have "yet to officially decide -- if they were to be invited -- whether they would make the traditional champions' visit to the White House" following their win over the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, according to sources cited by Connor Letourneau of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The team yesterday released a statement denying reports that players had unanimously voted "to boycott a visit to the White House." Despite that, there is "reason to believe at least some of the players -- many of whom publicly have derided President Trump's administration -- wouldn't ... accept an invitation" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/14). Warriors co-Owner Joe Lacob yesterday morning was asked if the team would visit the White House, and he responded, "I can’t believe we’re getting this question already. That’s something we’ll worry about at the time. That’s a long time from now” ("First Take," ESPN, 6/13). Warriors F Andre Iguodala said that there is a chance the invite "will never come." Iguodala: "Maybe (Trump) doesn’t (invite us) and we don’t go, or we don’t say anything and make a big deal of it, and he doesn’t make a big deal of it and we go our separate ways" (USA TODAY, 6/14).

MAKING A STATEMENT: In L.A., Chuck Schilken notes athletes from championship teams have "skipped the traditional White House visits before," though it appears "more athletes are doing so in order to make a political statement" these days (L.A. TIMES, 6/14). In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell writes it would be "no surprise" if the Warriors turned down the opportunity. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, G Stephen Curry and F David West have "voiced strong criticism of Trump’s first months in office" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/14). ESPN's Amin Elhassan said, "If Steve Kerr is not going ... it would be really awkward for someone to say. ‘I'll go anyway.’ It's been like Steve, Gregg Popovich and Stan Van Gundy have been the most vocal critics from a coaching standpoint in any sport, not just in the basketball" ("The Jump," ESPN, 6/13). In N.Y., John Branch notes the decision to attend a White House ceremony would "appear to be most complex" for Kerr. His father, Malcolm, was president of the American Univ. of Beirut when he was "assassinated outside his office" in '84. Kerr has been "critical of American foreign policy in the Middle East, and he called Trump’s proposed travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries 'a horrible idea'" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/14).

POLITICALLY CHARGED: NBCBAYAREA.com's Monte Poole wrote no Warriors players or coaches "would be comfortable visiting a president who has sowed such division while renouncing civility and from the country's highest office." Poole: "Expect them to be the first NBA team to pass on such an opportunity" (NBCBAYAREA.com, 6/13). In N.Y., Shaun King writes, "The players, coaches, executives and investors I know all made it abundantly clear that under no circumstance would they be visiting Donald Trump's White House now, or later, for any photo ops." King: "While many people may be able to temporarily pretend like Donald Trump's not a monster in order to appear on the White House lawn for a smiling photo op with him, I seriously doubt anybody for the Warriors organization is going to be willing to do so themselves" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/14). But FS1's Jason Whitlock said if the Warriors "are the biggest Trump critics in sports … the whole group should go out there and question the man." Whitlock: "They should go out and engage with the man. I think he would be up for it -- the guy is a sports fan. If you don't like someone and you don't like their policies, ignoring them won't make it go away” ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 6/13).

LOSE-LOSE SITUATION: In S.F., Scott Ostler in a front-page piece notes Trump, "sensing a snub, could decide to make a preemptive strike" and not extend an invite to the team. If that happens, the Warriors are "still not off the hook." Many people would "blame the Warriors, saying that some of the team’s anti-Trump feelings forced the president’s hand." But if "normal protocol stands and they get invited, the Warriors face a choice." Ostler: "Anger a large portion of America by disrespecting the president, or anger a large portion of America by giving tacit support to the president by joining him in a happy-face photo op." If an entire team, including its coach, was to "turn down a presidential invitation, which is at least a possibility," it would be get into Colin Kaepernick territory, "where emotions go volcano." There is no indication the Warriors "would choose that path," but it "could happen" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/14). NBCS Bay Area's Kelli Johnson predicted Trump will not invite them to the White House "to act like, ‘I don't care if they're (not) coming because I'm not inviting them.’" Johnson: "He will beat them to the punch and say he doesn't want the Warriors so that he looks like he had the decision, knowing that it didn't matter what he did. The Warriors weren't coming anyways.” CSNBayArea.com's Ray Ratto said, “I don't think they will be invited, and I'm good with that because it's a silly thing anyway. ... It really is just sort of a pointless photo op that people waste a lot of time and energy on” ("The Happy Hour," NBCS Bay Area, 6/13). 

PENGUINS WOULD STILL ATTEND
: In Pittsburgh, Dave Molinari reports the Penguins "will accept" an invitation to the White House to celebrate their Stanley Cup win should it be extended. Penguins President & CEO David Morehouse in a statement said the franchise "would never turn down a visit to the White House and, if invited, we would go as a team." Molinari notes Penguins co-Owner Ron Burkle is a "major donor to Democratic causes, and Morehouse worked in the Clinton administration" and on Al Gore’s '00 presidential campaign. But Morehouse said that those political leanings "would have no impact on the team’s willingness to go to the White House." A Penguins official said that no player would be "forced to attend" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/14). In Chicago, Rick Telander writes the Penguins are "almost all white," while the Warriors are "almost all of color, with not a single white American on the team" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/14).

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