Roger Staubach is officially at ends with President-Elect Donald Trump. It began with Trump following the presidential tradition of attending the Army- Navy game, as he was present and accounted for on Dec. 10 in Baltimore. All was well until the soon to be POTUS was asked his take on the game itself, and that's when things went a bit left.
“Why did you decide to attend this particular game?” asked CBS Sports voice Verne Lundquist.
"Today? Just love the armed forces. Love the folks,” Trump said.
“The spirit is so incredible.”
If he had stopped talking there it would have been a well-stated and heartfelt compliment. Alas, he continued and immediately undermined his own Salute to Service.
“I mean, I don’t know if it’s necessarily the best football," said the future Commander-In-Chief.
"But it’s very good. But boy, do they have a spirit. More than anybody. It’s beautiful,” Trump said.
That additional comment didn't well with Staubach, who played Navy football and graduated the Academy in 1965 and then served in Vietnam before returning to play for the Dallas Cowboys -- who had drafted him in 1964 with a "futures" 10th-round selection.
“I don’t want to comment on any political stuff,” Staubach told the NY Daily News. “But, service football is extremely respectable and very competitive. They’ve won some big games. They are not in the top 10 this year or anything, but it’s still good football. I really enjoy watching service football.”
“A couple of years ago, Navy almost beat Ohio State,” continued the legend so faithfully referred to as Captain America. “I went to the Naval Academy to get an education and I also made a commitment to be in the service, which I am very proud of.
“I would do it again in a second.”
Staubach's goal is for Trump to recognize that those who attend service academies have a greater goal in mind which is to serve their country. And while that may at times impact their ability to focus on football, the quality of play and dedication has never been in question.
“We were competitive back [when I played]. I still think today we are competitive,” Staubach said. “We are also bringing players into the schools that will serve someday. They know they are going to do that and their aspirations to be in pro football will be significantly delayed.
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Poster’s Comment – Paraphrasing from memory:
Bill Hemmer just reported on Fox News that he called Roger Staubach in Dallas today and asked him about this story that is spread all over the internet. Bill said Roger told him the story is completely wrong and the headline is misleading. Roger said the reporting was inaccurate and this is just another reason he does not like to talk to reports.
This is exactly why I continue to harp on the absurdity of fake news and how it is so detrimental.
