Rumors are now flying. The brand new NBA champion Golden State Warriors will unanimously refuse to go to the White House to celebrate their title.

Several major sites have reported such rumors. Many members of the Warriors have criticized Trump personally before.

Athletes have skipped White House celebrations before, too. Earlier this year, many members of the New England Patriots decided to forego the trip to the White House to protest Trump. In 2011, Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas refused to visit the White

House to meet with President Obama, with Thomas explaining, quote, I believe the federal

government has grown out of control, threatening the rights, liberties, and properties of the

people. Back in 2011, of course, the leftist media was the one ripping an athlete getting

involved in politics. As Heath Street reported, Joe McDonald's of ESPN wrote that Tim Thomas

put himself above the team. James Hardy from Bleacher report said, if Thomas was a real man,

who would have gone to the Boston Bruins management and ownership, returned the money from

his contract and quit the balance of it by retiring so he could exercise his rights as a free citizen. And it's sports illustrated, Stu Hapel wrote, quote, Tim Thomas decided to exploit a non-political event to expose his personal political views. The temptation on the right to condemn the Patriots for standing against Trump was strong as well. Here is the truth, though. All of these people have the absolute right not to stand next

to a president they don't like. And actually, I think we should kill the tradition of winning teams

visiting the White House altogether. The presidency is not a ceremonial position. It is an executive

one. You wouldn't expect the local high school regional champs to visit the head of the local waterboard

for a photo op. Why should politicians treat athletes like subjects who must visit the White House of the Women of Honor? None of the local water board for a photo op? Why should politicians treat athletes like subjects

who must visit the White House at the Women of Honor? None of this actually used to be a big deal.

According to ESPN, the first sports team to visit the White House were the Brooklyn Atlantics

and the Washington Nationals back in 1865, the first World Series team champions to visit the White

House were the Washington Senators in 1924.

But both of those visits were by local teams.

The first NBA champions to visit the White House were the Boston Celtics in 63 with JFK.

The first NCAA champions to show up came in 1976.

But ESPN reports, quote, it was Ronald Reagan, who made the practice of honoring championship teams at the White House of regular occurrence.

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