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Stephen A. Smith strongly defended the right of NFL players to do the controversial “Trump Dance,” inspired by the President-Elect, during games.
“They got a right to support who the hell they want. Without the league needing to send in a response,” said the ESPN star on his eponymous podcast and YouTube show. “I didn’t see a response from the UFC (after Jon Jones did the dance at UFC 309). You know why? Because Dana White wouldn’t entertain it. …Because he don’t play that nonsense. He’s going to support who he’s going to support. He’s not going to apologize for it. As most American citizens should feel free to do.”
Smith, who’s said he’s considered running for the presidency himself, said he was “pissed off” that the NFL even had to issue a statement.
“It ain’t about Trump. It’s about them reminding everybody, this is America. We should be allowed to believe what we want to believe. Feel what we want to feel. And do what we want to do within reason. Without having to worry about being ostracized, demonized, and ultimately excoriated to the point where we got to go into hiding. Those days need to be over,” Smith said.
“Celebrations usually don’t warrant that. It doesn’t require a response from the league,” added Smith. “So why was it necessary this time? You know why. Because we’ve got a bunch of people still living with their heads in the clouds, acting like they get to protest every little damn thing. This is America. Donald Trump won the election. Rather convincingly, I might add.”
Smith came out swinging just a few days after Front Office Sports exclusively reported the NFL would not crack down on players doing the dance inspired by Trump’s signature campaign shimmy.
“There’s no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place yesterday or the previous week with the 49ers on November 10,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy [no relation] told me Monday.
As for rumors that the league was directing broadcast TV partners to omit coverage of the dance, McCarthy said that’s not the case. “It’s up to the networks to cover them as they see fit,” he said.
Last Sunday, five NFL players (including outspoken Trump supporter Nick Bosa of the 49ers) performed the Trump dance on the field after big plays. So did Christian Pulisic of the U.S. men’s national soccer team after a goal against Jamaica. “I just thought it was funny,” he explained. On Saturday, Georgia defensive tackle Warren Brinson broke out the dance after a sack during his team’s lopsided win over the UMass Minutemen.
Former men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard ripped Pulisic for his choice of celebration. “Doing a dance that mimics Donald Trump is stupid,” he wrote in the UK’s Daily Mail. “Why? Because, whether it’s the president of the United States or my neighbor down the street, I would never back someone who I believe is racist. I wouldn’t glorify that. I wouldn’t do it for anything.”
What a difference a few seasons make. The viral Trump dance, and Bosa wearing a “Make America” great hat on the field, stands in contrast to Trump’s first campaign in 2016, when ex-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick inspired virtually the entire league to take a knee during the U.S. national anthem to support social justice.
