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SPORTS Thursday 20 april 2017

Trump congratulates Patriots, doesn’t mention Hernandez

CATHERINE LUCEY dent with a personalized
JONATHAN LEMIRE “Trump” No. 45 jersey and
Associated Press a helmet from February’s
WASHINGTON (AP) — Super Bowl, the first such
President Donald Trump game to go to overtime.
welcomed the New Eng- Kraft was one of at least
land Patriots to the White seven NFL team owners
House Wednesday, noting who gave $1 million each
the parallels between his to Trump’s inaugural com-
own upset victory and their mittee, a new fundrais-
stunning Super Bowl win ing report shows. Others
— but avoiding discussion include the owners of the
of the apparent prison sui- Houston Texans, the Wash-
cide of their former team- ington Redskins, the Jack-
mate Aaron Hernandez sonville Jaguars and the
earlier in the day. Los Angeles Rams. Kraft
As he extolled the team’s gave the money via his
virtues and saluted individ- Kraft Group LLC.
ual players, the president After the victory in Febru-
did not name star quar- ary, tight end Martellus
terback Tom Brady, who Bennett quickly made it
notified the White House clear he was not coming
that he was dealing with to the White House, and
a “personal family matter” President Donald Trump is presented with a New England Patriots jersey by Patriots head coach other teammates followed.
and would not attend the Bill Belichick, left, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, center, during a ceremony on the Some noted their differ-
South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 19, 2017, where the president
ceremony. honored the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots for their Super Bowl LI victory. Also pic- ences with the Republican
Trump hosted the five-time tured is New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft, second from right. administration, though oth-
champions on the South Associated Press ers did not an issue a rea-
Lawn and declared that son for their absence.
“no team has been good ceremony was the news Wide receiver Malcolm Trump has particularly close Defensive back Devin Mc-
this long.” about Hernandez, who Mitchell said he was moved ties to the Patriots, count- Courty told Time Maga-
“It was a complete team hanged himself in a prison by the White House cer- ing owner Bob Kraft and zine: “I don’t feel accept-
effort. That’s the beauty cell hours before the White emony, saying it “almost head coach Bill Belichick ed in the White House.
of what they do, they win House visit, according to brought me to tears. As a as friends. One of Trump’s With the president having
as a team,” said Trump, Massachusetts prison offi- child growing up, I never signature “Make America so many strong opinions
who compared the team’s cials. would have thought a Great Again” hats was and prejudices I believe
25-point comeback Hernandez, who played president would have said spotted in Brady’s locker in certain people might feel
against the Atlanta Fal- for the Patriots from 2010 my name by any means.” 2015. accepted there while oth-
cons in February to his own to 2012, was serving a life One player made an im- During the South Lawn cer- ers won’t.”
political upset. “Pundits, sentence for a murder promptu appearance at a emony, Trump recounted Players have turned down
boy, are they wrong a lot, conviction. Days ago, the White House press before reading a supportive letter White House invites ever
aren’t they? They said you 27-year-old former tight the official ceremony. Tight from Belichick on the eve since such events began
couldn’t do it.” end was acquitted of a end Rob Gronkowski stuck of the election, while Kraft to take off under President
More than two dozen Patri- double murder. his head in the door of saluted the president as a Ronald Reagan. That in-
ots skipped the ceremony. A team spokesman said the briefing room as Press friend for decades. cludes Brady in 2015. He
Several had said before- the Patriots were aware of Secretary Sean Spicer was “It is a distinct honor for us cited a “family commit-
hand that they would not the reports of Hernandez’s holding a televised brief- to celebrate what was un- ment” at the time, but
show for political reasons. death but the club wasn’t ing. equivocally our sweetest there was speculation he
Shortly before the event, expected to comment. Gronkowski jokingly asked championship with a very declined because of some
Brady posted a photo of Two players were brought Spicer whether he need- good friend and some- unflattering comments a
his parents on Instagram, to speak to reporters after ed any help. Spicer — an body whose mental tough- spokesman for President
wishing them a happy an- the White House ceremo- avid Patriots fan — re- ness and strength I greatly Barack Obama made
niversary. ny, but both said they had sponded: “I think I got this. admire,” said Kraft. The about the “Deflategate”
Casting a pall over the not known Hernandez. But thank you.” team presented the presi- scandal.q