Politics Affects Sports: LeBron James and other Cavaliers members refuse to stay at hotel associated with Donald Trump
The polarization of the American society over the rise of Donald Trump, who eventually won the presidential election on November 8, has even affected things that are not political. While three NBA teams - the Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks refused to stay in hotels that are associated with the president-elect a week after he defeated Hillary Clinton, now it is turn for the Cleveland Cavaliers to repeat the same.
According to cleveland.com, the defending NBA champions have decided to shun Trump SoHo, a hotel in New York, during their stay in Manhattan to play the Knicks on Thursday (December 8). The Cavs' members who have taken this stand also include ace player LeBron James.
"The team has made arrangements for players who do not wish to stay at Trump SoHo to sleep in a different hotel this week for the Cavs' game against the Knicks on Wednesday, general manager David Griffin said," Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon informed. The booking in Trump SoHo had been made before the presidential election.
Thirty-one-year old James endorsed Clinton in this year's election saying only she knew the pain of an Akron child born in poverty. He also backed the former Secretary of State saying he would build on the legacy of his "good friend" Barack Obama. James had also campaigned for Clinton in Cleveland just a couple of days ahead of the election.
James, however, did not lose heart after the election result did not go in favor of the candidate he backed. He told the supporters after the result that the country would be okay and that the children could still bring the change.
Besides James, many of James's teammates in the Cavs also expressed their intense disliking for Trump. Players like Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson said they will not pay the traditional visit to the White House if the Cavs win the NBA championship during Trump's presidency.