Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
A presidential invitation to visit the White House has long been a tradition for championship sports teams. The Kansas City Royals traveled there after they won the 2015 World Series when Barack Obama was president.
In recent years, however, several players and teams have refused to go because they disagree politically with the president. Those teams and players have come under criticism for being part of the “cancel culture” with fans saying they should rise above politics and celebrate with the nation in the nation’s “House.”
A no-show won’t be the case for Andy Reid, head coach of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
During his press conference on Monday, Reid was asked about visiting the White House and he said if the team gets invited, he’ll be there. “I mean, I’ll be there,” Reid said. “If they’re inviting us, I’ll be there. It’s quite an honor.”
When asked, Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu also indicated he would go if invited.
“I’m here to represent the Kansas City Chiefs…and…represent the city the right way, he said.”
Reid’s announcement comes on the heels of the LSU Tigers visiting the White House after winning the college football national championship. So far, other Chiefs players haven’t announced if they will travel to Washington D.C., but they are still busy celebrating the team’s first championship in 50 years. And they give all the credit to Reid who has likely solidified his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the win.
“He’s one of the best coaches of all time; he already was before we won this game,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes told ESPN. “But we wanted to get that trophy just because he deserved it. The work that he puts in day in and day out. He’s there at like 3 in the morning, and he leaves at 11 [at night]. I don’t think he sleeps. I’ve tried to beat him in, and I never can. He’s someone that works harder than anyone I’ve ever known, and he deserves it.”
Reid, 61, has been coaching since 1982. However, he didn’t become an NFL head coach until 1999 when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, Reid won six division championships, led the team to five conference championships and the Eagles reached the Super Bowl in 2005 only to lose to the New England Patriots.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco sports media got ahead of itself when it began asking players on the hometown 49ers team if they would accept an invitation to visit the White House and hang out with Trump if they won Super Bowl LIV.
“I haven’t thought about it,” cornerback Sherman told the paper. “We’ve got a long way between now and then, but I doubt it.”
Of course, Sherman was right, because the losing team doesn’t get invited.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
