Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins was one of many NFL players to stand in opposition to President Trump’s comments about professional athletes protesting during the national anthem.
“I’m not going to tell you my first thoughts,” Thomas said in the locker room after Sunday’s game. “As somebody in the NFL who is one of those ‘sons of b*tches,’ yeah, I take it personally. But it’s bigger than me,” Thomas went on. “I’ve got a daughter. She’s going to have to live in this world. I’m going to do whatever I’ve got to do.”
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President Trump faced stark criticism after saying that NFL players who, in opposition to racial injustice in America, refuse to stand during the national anthem should be fired. The president’s tone and name-calling amplified his comments to the extent of NFL players and owners joining forces in condemnation.
“Our country needs unifying leadership right now, not more divisiveness,” Stephen Ross, owner of the Dolphins, said in a prepared statement. “We need to seek to understand each other and have civil discourse instead of condemnation and sound bites,” he added.
Ross further explained, “I know our players who kneeled for the anthem and these are smart young men of character who want to make our world a better place for everyone. They wanted to start a conversation and are making a difference in our community, including working with law enforcement to bring people together. We all can benefit from learning, listening and respecting each other. Sports is a common denominator in our world. We all have the responsibility to use this platform to promote understanding, respect, and equality.”
President Trump’s comments about the NFL came in sync with his Twitter session in which he rescinded NBA star Stephen Curry’s invitation to the White House. The Golden State Warriors were invited to meet the president after winning the NBA championship earlier this year. President Trump, however, slammed Curry for “hesitating” to accept his invitation before moving to withdraw the open call altogether this past weekend. It was unclear if the cancellation extended to the entire team but the Warriors, in solidarity with Curry, decided to refrain from making plans to visit the president just in case.
Stephen Curry is the proud father of two children, Riley and Ryan. His oldest daughter, Riley, continues to make a name for herself outside of mom and dad’s fame.
