Penguins coach Mike Sullivan "insists the franchise's decision to visit the White House does not mean the team is wading into the increasingly charged intersection of sports and politics," according to Will Graves of the AP. Sullivan defended the decision yesterday, "stressing it did not serve as a signal" that the club is "picking a side in the increasingly heated debate" between President Trump and NFL players who protest during the national anthem. Sullivan: "We haven't taken any stance. The Penguins, as an organization and our players, have chosen not to use this platform to take a stance. There appears to be a perception that we have, and it is wrong." Graves noted Sullivan specifically defended Penguins C Sidney Crosby from what the coach views as "external pressure on the sport's most popular player to make some sort of political statement" (AP, 9/27). In Pittsburgh, Jason Mackey writes "accusing the Penguins of taking a political stance here is somewhat strange" because two of their highest-ranking officials -- co-Owner Ron Burkle and President & CEO David Morehouse -- actually have "strong Democratic ties" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/28).
IS THE KID STILL ALRIGHT? The CP wrote under the header, "Trump Visit Tarnishes Sidney Crosby's Crown In His Usually Admiring Hometown." Crosby has "faced widespread criticism on social media for his decision to support the team’s upcoming visit to the White House, but disapproval has also percolated to the surface" in the greater Halifax region, where Crosby is from and is "typically accorded god-like status" (CP, 9/27). A Halifax CHRONICLE HERALD editorial states that the decision of the Penguins and Crosby to visit the White House "doesn’t deserve the abuse it is getting." Both have said that their acceptance is a "reflection of respect for the office and of the tradition -- and nothing more." They have also said that they "respect the right of any individual to go or not to go." The editorial: "How about the rest of us respecting the right of Crosby and his teammates to choose how they respond to the invitation in the context of Mr. Trump’s divisive attack on athletes? How about respecting their sincerity when they define what they are doing here?" (Halifax CHRONICLE HERALD, 9/28). However, two associate professors at Halifax-based Mount St. Vincent Univ. wrote a piece for the CHRONICLE HERALD under the header, "Six Reasons Why Crosby Should Dodge Trump's White House" (THECHRONICLEHERALD.ca, 9/26). Crosby this week has been the subject of two editorial cartoons featured in the CHRONICLE LEADER. Cartoonist Michael de Adder today features Crosby wearing his jersey with the stain of Trump's name on it. That follows a Tuesday cartoon that depicted Trump derisively introducing himself to Crosby in the Oval Office.
: In Pittsburgh, Sean Gentille writes going to the White House is a "more political choice than ever," and Trump himself has "directly politicized the actual visit." The Penguins on some level "have to see the logical jump there; teams that don’t agree with Donald Trump don’t go to the White House." That is what they have "opened themselves up to." Gentille: "You can’t expect to stand with the president and not have people think you stand with the president" (
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/28). In Montreal, Stu Cowan writes Crosby and the Penguins have now "become pawns in Trump’s ugly political strategy to divide Americans -- mainly based on race -- making it us vs. them." Cowan: "Trump can praise the white boys on the Penguins -- even though many are from a country that believes in health care for everyone -- while condemning the mostly black NBA players" (
MONTREAL GAZETTE, 9/28).
