America Needs More Quarterbacks, Fewer Politicians
After Sunday’s Bucs-Saints game, quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Brees - showered and dressed in street clothes - were caught on film as they met briefly on the field.
The QBs seemed to have a good-natured exchange while Brees’ four rambunctuous kids ran around. Before heading off, Brady tossed a touchdown pass to one of the boys.
It was a warm, quintessentially American moment. Intense rivalry during the game. Respect after the final whistle.
The scene struck a chord with fans. Last time I checked, a Tweet featuring the video had been liked more than 234,000 times.
Which brings me to President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
It would have been nice if Donald Trump had attended the ceremony, even if he had to fake a smile the entire time. Shoot, even the still-seething Hillary Clinton managed to attend Trump’s inauguration - she later confessed she tried to get out of it - although she never stopped claiming she actually won the election.
And it would have been lovely if Melania Trump had invited Jill Biden for a tour of the White House, showing her how to jiggle the toilet handles to keep them from running or whatever it is that First Ladies share during the traditional here’s-your-new-house tour.
But the Trumps are not conventional nor were they gracious in defeat. Yes, the couple was treated abysmally by the press and their political opponents for four years. Yes, a number of congressmen and senators boycotted the 2016 inauguration. And yes, neither of them felt like playing nice with people who’d compared them to Hitler and Eva Braun.
No excuse.
They should have risen above their own hurt and indignation. The office of the presidency demands as much.
In fact, if Trump had put aside his rage over losing the election long enough to simply campaign for the GOP in Georgia instead of giving his hardcore supporters false hopes of overturning the results of the election, America wouldn't be stuck with a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress right now.
We’re paying a steep price for Trump’s ego.
Many - not all - Trump supporters wish he’d attended the ceremony because, at our core, most Americans are decent people. Our parents taught us to try to be humble in victory, gracious in defeat. They extolled the virtue of good sportsmanship. It’s in our DNA.
If Donald and Melania had gone through the motions of being gracious as the new president was sworn in then perhaps Biden might have been caught up in the moment and called on the Senate to abandon the Trump impeachment trial in the interest of “unity.”
I know. Not a chance.
Truth is, Trump and Biden are not Brees and Brady.
That's a pity.
