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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThree ’72 Dolphins skip White House visit for political reasons
As a Dolphins fan, I am kind of disgusted by this. This is to celebrate the TEAM, not who they voted for in the last election.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/20/three-72-dolphins-skip-white-house-visit-for-political-reasons/
Former Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg, center Jim Langer and defensive tackle Manny Fernandez all told Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel that they dont want to appear alongside a president whose policies they dont support.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)WTF was Kuechenberg, Langer and Fernandez? They're just three NOBODIES trying to make a point!
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)I know him because he played his last two seasons for the Vikings (I live in Minnesota.)
TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)alp227
(31,959 posts)and 3 All-Pro selections. Normally the O-line guys don't get as much buzz as the skill positions i.e. quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive players.
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Who cares about their little POV's? They're rejecting their team more than anything else.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Freedom of expression is grand. Don't think I would be too upset if someone bailed on the shrub back in the day.
NoPasaran
(17,291 posts)Fuck 'em and feed 'em fish heads.
Ninga
(8,266 posts)dennis4868
(9,774 posts)Zorra
(27,670 posts)are not attending the party.
Response to RockaFowler (Original post)
Post removed
BOG PERSON
(2,916 posts)edhopper
(33,164 posts)has forgotten the only perfect team in NFL history.
They have stated that it would not be "fun" for them. They wish their other team mates well and have not denounced the event.
It's a nice honor, but not a big deal that a few aren't going.
Skeeter Barnes
(994 posts)Throd
(7,208 posts)Hell Hath No Fury
(16,327 posts)There was much discussion here during the Bush years about whether any DUers would make such a decision if asked to make an appearance at the WH with war criminal Bush. Many would not have gone -- I would have gone and protested him in person with a lovely stink palm.
bigwillq
(72,790 posts)They are free to go or not go for whatever reason.
I am sure some players didn't go when other presidents were in the White House.
I don't think it's that big of a deal that they're not going.
I hope everyone who chooses to go has a good time.
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)They probably think Obamacare is a government take-over of health care instead of a promise to proved insurance companies with more business.
They probably think Obama has spent more than any other president, when he's actually bringing down the deficit.
And, if they simply think Obama is too LGBT friendly, it just shows their age.
edhopper
(33,164 posts)If it was GWB and some of the team did this because of Iraq?
The did not make any political statements against the President, just said they disagreed and didn't want to take part. In fact they emphasized that they didn't want to go into the reasons, other than their not supporting Obama. They didn't say they object to the ceremony, they just aren't taking part and wish the others well.
As a Dolphin fan who had season tickets that year, I am fine with this.
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Langer pretty much says the President lacks a moral compass...gay marriage, anyone? Or is it universal health care? Who knows.
Weve got some real moral compass issues in Washington, Langer said. I dont want to be in a room with those people and pretend Im having a good time. I cant do that. If that [angers] people, so be it.
You're a sports fan; I get it. We all root for people who can be total assholes in private life. We like/d them as professionals. The smarter athletes understand that and keep their personal views to themselves in professional situations.
edhopper
(33,164 posts)Said they didn't agree and left it at that. If they had used this situation to actually attack Obama on some policy, I would feel they would be wrong.
They aren't going, which is there right, and made non confrontational statements. Just that they would not be comfortable at the WH.
So I don't have a problem.
If it was over the NSA or lack of Wall Street prosecutions, would you be okay with that?
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Here's what Langer said a year ago:
"No, never," he said.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-08-17/sports/fl-dave-hyde-white-house-dolphins-0818-20130817_1_white-house-president-obama-bob-kuechenberg
So there goes the NSA angle, with him at least. Was he at Zucotti Park two years ago?
edhopper
(33,164 posts)I was questioning if you would feel the same way if a player was doing the same thing, but because he objected to those things or another progressive reason?
I realize they are conservative, I just don't have a problem with how they are handling this.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)edhopper
(33,164 posts)not limited to ones political leaning = not bullshit.
This is a non-event that they would rather not attend, and i don't think anybody here would have a problem with this if the Pres. Reagen or Bush I or Bush II. Or if it was a progressive doing it because of the NSA.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)...vote for a republican" crowd is exactly what we see with Jimmy Carter and Clinton kind of attitude
edhopper
(33,164 posts)Comparing a citizen's right to feel however that want about the President.
But I guess you think people can only dislike the same people as you.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)(Can't find a recent photo of Fernandez but he would be old by now)
mick063
(2,424 posts)I think I would decline as well.
I wouldn't walk across the street to visit an entitlement reformer.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,079 posts)I would think that if it's your team being honored at the White House, you'd go as a team for the sake of the team.
It is, after all, a great honor.
If say I was a member of a championship team during the Bush Administration, and we were invited to the White House, I'd still go. Despite me personally being sickened by the then-occupant of the White House.
I would avoid any one-on-one pictures with Bush and I would avoid having to shake his hand, if possible, but I'd go for the sake of the team.
They have a right not to go, and if they were going just to bitch and moan it's just as well they not go, but still. It's an honor for your team, not for you.
SwankyXomb
(2,030 posts)that have done similar things don't get: you're not being honored by this specific President, you're being honored by the United States of America, as embodied in the President. So why do these pro athletes hate America?
spanone
(135,627 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)get. The wrong people always get the chance that others would give anything to have.
JI7
(89,172 posts)i know nothing about sports so i could be missing the obvious .
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)They never got a trip to the White House because they didn't do that then (and Nixon was a Redskins fan, who they beat in the Super Bowl that year).
alp227
(31,959 posts)nil desperandum
(654 posts)on whether or not you are a big sports fan...it appears you are not. They are the only undefeated team in the history of the game. They won every regular season game, and every post season game including the super bowl...
Having said that, it's another example of worshipping all the wrong folks in our celebrity obsessed, fame obsessed, sports based pop culture....some genetically gifted meat heads get to play a child's game for a living and somehow I'm supposed to consider their opinions about anything as having more weight than the rest of our society....doesn't work so much for me....
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)These 3 have felt the need to offer one while the rest of their teammates went and enjoyed an honor from the president.
I get awfully confused as to why people lash out at the entire organization for what one or two fools do. Same thing happened with the Tim Thomas/Boston Bruins White House visit. 20-some guys got bashed for one asshole not showing up.
edhopper
(33,164 posts)They just said they weren't comfortable going and kept it at that.
They will miss out on the ceremony, and that's about it.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)BOG PERSON
(2,916 posts)JI7
(89,172 posts)BOG PERSON
(2,916 posts)i dont think he would
JI7
(89,172 posts)BOG PERSON
(2,916 posts)JI7
(89,172 posts)and he can give a yes or no answer.
davepc
(3,936 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Also Nixon was a huge R*dsk*ns fan. Which explains a lot.
Johonny
(20,674 posts)Apparently he thought it was a nice thing for the wildly popular old players. All reports is the PR guys worked hard to try to convince the 3 to go to the meeting. After all if the Republican owner is willing to arrange and pay for the trip... it is hard to understand these players beef. It isn't totally unprecedented and these aren't the first players to decline a visit to the White.
Nixon is rumored to have "helped" Shula the year before
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--president-nixon-tried-to-help-dolphins-win-super-bowl-vi-225925413.html
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Fuck 'em.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)I couldn't get too worked up over this because it happened over 40 years ago. Plus, I can't fault them because Nixon was in the White House.
badtoworse
(5,957 posts)We need to respect the other side's point of view even if we disagree with it and we need to respect the people who hold those views. In this respect, the left is just as bad.
alp227
(31,959 posts)Could've been better said back when those players who snubbed the WH were in their football uniforms. Hell, Nixon was pretty damn liberal for a Republican president anyway, and even George H.W. Bush was willing to raise taxes and sign the Clean Air Act while in office. Compared to the current crop of Boehner/Cantor/Gohmert/McConnell/Ryan "oppose everything Obama does (even if Bush did the same)" Republicans in congress.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Hmmmm...easy choice for me.
trumad
(41,692 posts)Attended every home game during their perfect season.
I love that team and Don Shula. A big part of my life back then.
Am I disappointed that the 3 did not attend. Yeah---I admit I am.
But so what...the rest of the remaining players were there including Shula and his coaching staff---I they love the honor.
Go Phins
lpbk2713
(42,696 posts)It's not like anyone really gives a rat's ass what they think.
DinahMoeHum
(21,737 posts)n/t
Cha
(295,899 posts)"Washington (CNN) Four decades after they became the only NFL team so far to cap a perfect season with a Super Bowl win, the 1972 Miami Dolphins headed to the White House for a public honor from President Barack Obama on Tuesday.
"I know this is a little bit unorthodox four decades after the fact, but these guys never got their White House visit after winning Super Bowl VII," Obama said in the East Room. "Some of them are a little harder to recognize these days. They don't have the afros, the mutton chops, the fu manchus."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/20/after-push-from-player-undefeated-72-dolphins-to-receive-white-house-honor/?hpt=hp_bn3
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Great photo/perfect quote from the Prez.
Cha
(295,899 posts)President Barack Obama jokes with members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, including offensive guard Larry Little (L), and quarterback Bob Griese
http://theobamadiary.com/
BeyondGeography
(39,276 posts)Nothing much better than seeing an old guy put a lifetime into a smile like that.
Cha
(295,899 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Sad to see Coach Shula in a wheelchair.
Cha
(295,899 posts)JI7
(89,172 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)President Barack Obama jokes with members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, including offensive guard Larry Little (L), and quarterback Bob Griese
http://theobamadiary.com/
RedCappedBandit
(5,514 posts)Can't blame 'em for not wanting to meet a president they don't like. Their own political leanings are probably nonsense, though.