This is the Morning Win, by Andy Nesbitt.
Bill Belichick isn’t in the playoffs this year but his name still popped up in the news on Sunday when a report from Politico stated that president Donald Trump plans to award the Patriots head coach with the Presidential Medal of Freedom this Thursday.
And here’s the deal – there’s just no humanly possible way that Belichick can accept this honor from the president. Not this week. Not this month. Not from this president who just a few days ago fired up an angry mob that attacked the Capitol in an act of domestic terrorism like we’ve never seen before.
This has nothing to do with politics but rather doing what’s right for our country. President Trump is trying to go about business as usual just days after that attack on the Capitol and it would be wrong for anyone with a spine or any love for our country to play along with that man as his final days in the Oval Office slowly tick away.
Business shouldn’t go on as usual in the White House until at least Jan. 20 when president-elect Joe Biden takes over, or possibly earlier depending if any impeachment hearings actually move forward.
The day after last week’s attack we saw Trump give out two Medal of Freedom awards to golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player. Our friends at Golfweek correctly labeled that an embarrassment for the game of golf and something that shouldn’t have happened.
We’ve seen other athletes (from Tiger Woods to Babe Ruth) and celebrities receive the honor from Trump over the years, too.
Today, the president is scheduled to hand out two more Medal of Freedom awards to political allies Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes.
It’s clear that this once very highly respected honor is now being handed out like free drink tickets at an open bar and it just shouldn’t be that way – at all.
Belichick, who is a big history buff and grew up in a military family, has to be able to see how poorly it would look for him to accept this honor right now from a man who just days ago turned Americans on Americans in such an awful way. And when I say a military family, the man basically grew up at the Naval Academy and completely immersed himself into the workings of the Navy and how important our military is to our nation.
Video: Colin Powell: Trump should ‘just do what Nixon did and step down’ (TODAY)
Belichick also has to understand how badly this would look to the members of his team, who he has stood up for many times over the years, but especially over the past year. Just a few weeks ago he spoke about the importance of the social justice meetings and work his team has done over the past six months.
You can’t say that and then a few weeks later let Trump put a medal around your neck.
Can’t happen.
Belichick also should look at how the PGA of America voted Sunday night to move the 2022 PGA Championship from one of Trump’s golf courses.
Many people and organizations are rightly stepping back from the president in the days after the attack on the Capitol. This isn’t the time to be going toward him, unless that’s how you want to be remembered.
Accepting this honor from the president would immediately demolish any credibility Belichick has built with his players and would tarnish his image unlike anything he’s ever done while in charge of the Patriots’ organization.
And for those reasons he must say no thank you to Trump. Just like over 81 million people did in the election back in November.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Belichick just can't accept the Medal of Freedom from President Trump
Bill Belichick Rejects Trump's Medal Of Freedom Offer
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he will not accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, citing the riots at the U.S. Capitol.
FOXBOROUGH, MA — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday he will not accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump, calling the offer flattering but citing American values and last week's U.S. Capitol siege in turning the president down.
"Recently, I was offered to the opportunity to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I was flattered by out of respect for what the honor represents and admiration for prior recipients," Belichick said in a statement Monday night. "Subsequently, the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award. Above all, I am an American citizen with great reverence for our nation's values, freedom and democracy."
Belichick said talking about social justice with members of the Patriots contributed to his decision.
"I know I also represent my family and the New England Patriots team," he continued. "One of the most rewarding things in my professional career took place in 2020 when, through the great leadership within our team, conversations about social justice, equality and human rights moved to the forefront and became actions. Continuing those efforts while remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award."
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian honor. Belichick was scheduled to receive the award Thursday, even though House Democrats made it clear Trump could be impeached for a second time by then
Belichick, who has shared a long friendship with Trump, was pressured to decline the offer in the aftermath of the deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol last week.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) was among those who said Belichick should turn Trump down.
"I would refuse it if I were Bill Belichick," McGovern told CNN Monday. "This president has made a mockery of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Look at who he is giving it to in the last weeks, people like Devin Nunez and Jim Jordan ... Bill Belichick should do the right thing and say, 'No thanks.'"
McGovern, who represents much of central Massachusetts in the state's 2nd Congressional District, said he would be disappointed if Belichick accepted the award.
"This president is not fit to be in office," he said. "Anything he would bestow on anybody is meaningless and to accept it is disgraceful."
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey agreed.
"At a time when so many athletes and coaches are standing up for what's right, I hope Bill Belichick will reject this award," she tweeted.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) also said Belichick should reject the offer, pointing out on Boston Public Radio that Trump could be impeached Thursday.
Belichick hasn't publicly commented on his friendship with Trump in recent years, but he did write a flattering letter to the then-candidate that Trump read at a Manchester, New Hampshire, rally the night before the 2016 presidential election.
Belichick and some players met Trump at the White House after the team beat the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl in 2017. The team didn't travel to the White House after beating the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl in 201
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