What is the deal with championship teams visiting the white house?

stillgotgame · Post #21 » by **stillgotgame** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 12:40 am

The world champions meeting the most powerful man in the world - makes sense to me.

Lala870 · Post #22 » by **Lala870** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:37 am

I dont think anyone can tell you the real official reason. Nothing exists on the topic outside of some random ESPN columns on the subject.

I have my own theories but they are too tin foil hat for this site I think lol

dhsilv2 · Post #23 » by **dhsilv2** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:52 am

Tracymcgoaty wrote:Explain that to me. Is it just to celebrate with the president and his vp? Establish connections with politicians after certain players retire?

I know this thread will probably get moved or locked. I just found it interesting. Basically teams celebrating with the current presidents during those times all the way back to 1800s

You got teams partying with Ulysses i find that **** hilarious for some reason

US residents you guys know why it's a tradition?

The president is more than a political leader in theory. The idea is that the president is a figure head. This might be a problem in modern eras but the idea is just to bring people together with feel good stuff. It's not supposed to be political. It has nothing to do with politics.

dhsilv2 · Post #24 » by **dhsilv2** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 6:54 am

SFour wrote:you can ask the same question for the singing of national anthems before every single game

That was a PR stunt...you can research that on your own lol.

meekrab · Post #25 » by **meekrab** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:02 am

Happens for the same reason Lewis Hamilton is a Knight of the British Empire.

Dutchball97 · Post #26 » by **Dutchball97** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:05 am

I find myself being surprised at plenty of things Americans do but as far as I know athletes who won something important meeting heads of state happens just about everywhere in the world.

TTP · Post #27 » by **TTP** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:15 am

Memories wrote:
SlovenianDragon wrote:If it was me i personally wouldn't go... Nothing to do with politics...just sounds boring and a waste of time.

Going to the White House and meeting the President is boring? Man, love or hate the president, I would always go (well, except Trump, but he was a special case of bad).

Plus I bet the food there is incredible.

It has to be. I've only heard great things about the food at the White House. Really great things. Especially when the best teams are there. People are saying they serve the best Big Macs around.

-Luke- · Post #28 » by **-Luke-** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:40 am

SlovenianDragon wrote:If it was me i personally wouldn't go... Nothing to do with politics...just sounds boring and a waste of time.

Larry Bird agreed. "If the president wants to see me, he knows where to find me"

316Hornets · Post #29 » by **316Hornets** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:20 am

It gets sports teams more in the public eye reaching people who might not watch sports, as well as, helps the President reach those not into politics. I think it's a mutal beneficial thing that both parties see value in. And, in the case a President is disliked, players can make a stand by refusing to go in order to show their support behind their fanbase. Sure, it's not as fun as playing video games with your buddies but I'm sure they're treated well.

hauntedcomputer · Post #30 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 1:38 pm

I hope we taxpayers don't fund that. We have far too much nationalism in sports as it is, and the league is more than 20 percent foreign at this point.

It would make more sense to meet Jay-Z or Drake.

Lunartic · Post #31 » by **Lunartic** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:10 pm

hauntedcomputer wrote:I hope we taxpayers don't fund that. We have far too much nationalism in sports as it is, and the league is more than 20 percent foreign at this point.

It would make more sense to meet Jay-Z or Drake.

National pride is a good thing. The NBA is an American creation/organization, it's fine to show respect to the country. All other national teams do the same thing whether it's France, Nigeria, China,Spain, Uganda etc - they all play their anthems and fly their flags during games.

Also why would anyone want to me meet some washed up talent-less hacks?

Post #32 » by **Sixerscan** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:07 pm

It's not just sports teams, the white house invites people that do cool things virtually every week day.

Pennebaker · Post #33 » by **Pennebaker** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 8:32 pm

Tracymcgoaty wrote:Explain that to me. Is it just to celebrate with the president and his vp? Establish connections with politicians after certain players retire?

I know this thread will probably get moved or locked. I just found it interesting. Basically teams celebrating with the current presidents during those times all the way back to 1800s

You got teams partying with Ulysses i find that **** hilarious for some reason

US residents you guys know why it's a tradition?

It's a way for Presidents to relate to voters by showing them that they also love sports like a proper American. So it's nothing more than PR for the benefit of the President.

TravisScott55 · Post #34 » by **TravisScott55** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 8:39 pm

It's dumb

tondi123 · Post #35 » by **tondi123** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:14 pm

Well it may be a lot of things but a tradition isn't one of them. Traditions happen every year and aren't dependent on which party is sitting in the White House.

Post #36 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:32 pm

SlovenianDragon wrote:If it was me i personally wouldn't go... Nothing to do with politics...just sounds boring and a waste of time.

I don’t think you understand the tradition and the significance of it. You are looking at it from a player perspective. So I’ll try to explain it. It has nothing to with politics (though in the past 4 years it started to matter). It is about visiting a landmark of our nation, and getting to meet the nation’s leader, it is about stepping in historical grounds, and learning about our history. You still have the option of not going, it is not mandatory, but it does make you look like a disrespectful unpatriotic A hole if you don’t. It is only a couple of hours so you still have time to visit the monuments and museums in DC on your own.

Gorilla Monsoon · Post #37 » by **Gorilla Monsoon** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:42 pm

Let's go Brandon

SlovenianDragon · Post #38 » by **SlovenianDragon** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:48 pm

snaquille oatmeal wrote:
SlovenianDragon wrote:If it was me i personally wouldn't go... Nothing to do with politics...just sounds boring and a waste of time.

I don’t think you understand the tradition and the significance of it. You are looking at it from a player perspective. So I’ll try to explain it. It has nothing to with politics (though in the past 4 years it started to matter). It is about visiting a landmark of our nation, and getting to meet the nation’s leader, it is about stepping in historical grounds, and learning about our history. You still have the option of not going, it is not mandatory, but it does make you look like a disrespectful unpatriotic A hole if you don’t. It is only a couple of hours so you still have time to visit the monuments and museums in DC on your own.

None of that sounds appealing lol.

Id rather go to top golf or something.

HDMAVS760CA · Post #39 » by **HDMAVS760CA** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 9:52 pm

Pharenheit wrote:The last couple republican presidents have been an absolute embarrassment but I’m sure it’s still a cool experience to see the White House

There, fixed it for ya

xdrta+ · Post #40 » by **xdrta+** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:04 pm

SlovenianDragon wrote:If it was me i personally wouldn't go... Nothing to do with politics...just sounds boring and a waste of time.

Then you'll be relieved to know that no one is forced go. Every year some players don't go, so when you win a championship you can just skip it.