In Donald’s macho world, with big hands and locker room talk, losing support from the greatest NFL coach of all time is probably worse than being accused of igniting a riot that has profaned our nation’s Capitol.
In February 1968, when the admired CBS anchor, Walter Cronkite, told viewers that America’s involvement in Vietnam was a failed mission, President Lyndon Johnson said, “If I lost Cronkite, I lost the middle of America.”
This may be Trump’s Cronkite moment.
Since 2016, whenever snowflakes and “False News” hurt the president, he has always had the Patriots as a reserve. Tom Brady had a MAGA hat in his closet. Bob Kraft contributed $ 1 million to Trump’s inauguration and happily rode with Trump in Air Force One. Belichick wrote a love note to Trump and agreed to let him read it to voters in New Hampshire on the eve of the 2016 election. .
“You dealt with incredibly skewed and negative media and it came out beautifully,” Belichick told Trump. “You proved to be the greatest competitor and fighter. Your leadership is incredible. I have always had a great respect for you, but the firmness and perseverance you showed last year is remarkable. Hopefully, tomorrow’s election results will give you the opportunity to make America Great Again. “
When Belichick was asked about the letter, he said, “Our friendship has been going on for many years.”
After the Patriots humiliated the Falcons in the Super Bowl LI, Belichick took his team to the White House and Kraft presented Trump with a Patriots jersey # 45 and a championship ring with 283 diamonds. In 2018, Trump appointed Bill to serve on the President’s Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Council. Last summer, Trump said, “If I had a military battle, I would call Belichick and say, ‘What do you think? Give me some ideas. ‘”
That was before. This is now. In January 2021, Belichick rejected Trump’s invitation to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s largest civilian award. The coach stated: “Above all, I am an American citizen” and referred to the 2020 conversations with his players on “social justice, equality and human rights”.
Belichick’s statement helps you maintain your locker room, while distancing you from a president who in 2017 reacted to NFL players kneeling with: “You wouldn’t love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag, you say: ‘ Get that son of a bitch out of the field right now. Out! He’s fired! ‘”
Belichick’s decision was met with almost universal applause. Earlier on Monday night, I tweeted, “Belichick gives the best opinion about his career”, which generated more than 3,000 “likes”. It never happens. I have over 85,000 followers on Twitter, most of whom hate me, and my “proportion” of tweets generally tends to be worse than Jackie Bradley Jr.’s career hitting average.
Trump could probably have avoided this embarrassment if he had paid more attention. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Belichick received the award before the attack on the Capitol. News of Belichick’s impending honor leaked on Sunday and was confirmed by the White House. Too bad nobody in Trump’s office returned to Belichick to see if the events of January 6 might change his mind about going to Washington to receive the award.
It’s a big embarrassment for Trump, the kind that hits him where it hurts.
And the best piece in Bill Belichick’s career in the Hall of Fame.
Dan Shaughnessy is a columnist for the Globe. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dan_shaughnessy.