One of the top ESPN television and radio presenters blasted the Nation Football League for its weighing on players performing the dance moves popularized by President Donald J. Trump, who often shimmies to the Village People’s 1978 disco anthem “Y.M.C.A.” at his campaign rallies.
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“Here’s why I’m p#ssed off that the NFL had to even issue a statement about it because celebrations usually don’t warrant that,” said Stephen A. Smith, the co-host of the “First Take” television program and host of his eponymous radio show.
“They got a right to support who the hell they want without the league needing to send in a response,” said the former Winston-Salem University shooting guard.
The season is not over yet, but so far, at least four players performed the Trump Dance, including San Francisco 49er defensive end Nick Bosa after a sack; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers after a touchdown; Tennessee Titan wide receiver Calvin Ridley after catching a pass and Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith after a sack.”
Bosa, an outspoken Trump supporter, was fined $11,255 wearing a MAGA ball cap while photobombing a Nov.10 TV postgame interview with his quarterback Brock Purdy.
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The NFL.com report laid out the violation:
NFL rules state that “throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”
Bosa, who agreed to a five-year, $170 million contract extension in September 2023, said earlier this week that he was aware that his actions could be subject to a fine.
“It was well worth it,” he said.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports: “There’s no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place yesterday or the previous week with the 49ers on Nov. 10.”
McCarthy also told FOS: “It’s up to the networks to cover them as they see fit.” This is an interesting comment since the networks now use the pre-kickoff singing of the National Anthem as another commercial break—like an injury timeout.
Related: NFL Weighs in on Players Doing the ‘Trump Dance’ in the End Zone
Video of Trump Dance Bringing the Joy Back to America Going Viral: ‘Make America Fun Again’
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WATCH: 49ers Nick Bosa Does ‘Trump Dance’ After a Sack – and Your Next President Was Loving It
Smith told his viewers the NFL demonstrated how alienated it has become with its “no issue” statement about the Trump dances—and by way of comparison, he said UFC CEO Dana White would have never made a statement regarding fighter Jon “Bones” Jones doing the Trump Dance after winning a match.
“You know why? Because Dana White wouldn’t entertain it,” the Queens native said.
“Dana White would not entertain that 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,” he said.
Smith said he did not vote for Trump. “He won, and I have no problem accepting the fact that he won fair and square in romp-like fashion–I might add, and he’s worthy of being the President of the United States.”
He said one reason Trump won is the same reason Smith is ticked off at the NFL.
“It was emblematic of the climate that we’ve been living in for years now, which is why I believe Donald Trump was really elected,” he said.
“Woke culture, cancel culture—oh, hell, yes—that played a role where you got people walking around wondering whether or not they’re echoing the right pronoun,” said the man who plays the recurring “General Hospital” character, Brick.
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The woke culture put everyone on edge, he said.
“It doesn’t require a response from the league, so why was it necessary this time? You know why?” he said.
“We got a bunch of people still living with their heads in the cloud acting like they get to protest every little damn thing,” Smith said.
People are wondering whether or not something they said or did was going to cost them their job or being PC, he said.
“Gawd forbid your opinion is different than the average folk walking around in America–Lord knows what would happen to you—that’s what America regressed to,” he said.
“Because of that, I believe is a big reason why Donald Trump on Jan. 20 will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States of America.”