President Trump on Thursday plans to award Patriots coach Bill Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which "will represent the culmination of one of the more public relationships Trump has enjoyed with a major sports figure during the course of his presidency." Trump last month reappointed Belichick to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and, prior to then, "welcomed Belichick and the Patriots to the White House following their Super Bowl win" against the Falcons in '17. Of the 25 Presidential Medals of Freedom that Trump has awarded or announced, 15 have been for "people known primarily for sports" (POLITICO.com, 1/10). However, one report states it is not a "certainty yet that Belichick accepts this award" (TWITTER.com, 1/11).
REACTIONS: USA TODAY goes with the header, "With Our Country In Chaos After Attack On Capitol, Donald Trump Plans Cheap Stunt." The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan tweeted, "Say it ain’t so, Bill. I sincerely hope this is Fake News." TV producer Michael Schur: "I hope neither Belichick nor Kraft ever wins another game in the NFL and the franchise is left in ruins." Bruins writer Joe Haggerty: "There's no way Bill Belichick should accept this."
