What You Didn’t Know About Sports Teams Visiting The White House
The antics and the history around the tradition of celebrating for champions at the White House.
Photo: The White House/Erin Scott
Above: Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson and Connor Barwin perform "This Christmas" from The Philly Specials' album, A Philly Special Christmas, that raised more than $2.5M for charity.
As the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their Super Bowl title today, let’s discuss the antics when athletes head to the White House.
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The Last Night’s Game Team
1. The tradition of sports teams visiting the White House began in 1865, but it wasn’t until 1924 that President Calvin Coolidge celebrated the World Series Champion Washington Senators (baseball). Although the NBA (National Basketball Association) champs didn’t make their first visit until 1963, NFL (National Football League) in 1980 and NHL (National Hockey League) 1991. The regular tradition of welcoming the championship teams from professional, collegiate and Olympic sports really started with President Ronald Reagan.
2. Since you never show up to a party empty-handed, teams typically bring along their winning trophy and a gift for the president, usually a team jersey, or in Texas A&M’s case, a pair of A&M cowboy boots. When the New York Giants (NFL) visited, they brought their own snacks. The team dumped a cooler full of popcorn on President Reagan to honor the traditional merriment of pouring Gatorade on the head coach to celebrate a victory. A DREAM COME TRUE
3. Plenty of teams, especially collegiate teams, fly in and out on the same day, but others stay in hopes of leaving a lasting impression. When the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) visited the White House, the team and the president packed over 3,000 care packages for troops serving overseas. During their time in D.C., the San Antonio Spurs (NBA) visited wounded veterans and the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team put on a youth soccer clinic. DOING THE MOST GOOD
4. It’s not always warm and fuzzy as some players boycott the visit and use it as an opportunity to speak out against the president’s policies or the government. It used to be rare to decline the invitation, but we’ve seen a lot of that in President Trump’s presidency with partial rosters attending or entire teams declining to attend the visit. While there are still plenty of championship teams that visited the White House during his tenure, President Trump never extended an invitation to the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) champions. RAIN CHECK
5. No matter who the sitting president is, the overwhelming majority of athletes who visit the White House talk about the surreal and unbelievable experience. While most presidents avoid restricted areas of the White House, President Trump was known for throwing the Secret Service for a loop and bringing his athletic visitors into the Oval Office and other rooms usually not open to the public. A CASUAL HOME TOUR
Monday Minute: Mikaela Shiffrin's Crash, College Football Fights + NFL's Charitable Weekend
Delivering more gifts than Santa
Welcome to the first week of December! The holiday season is in full swing, and as we dive into this week’s sports highlights, there’s plenty to discuss—from thrilling college football rivalries to NFL player charity initiatives. With the holiday parties ramping up, we’ve got you covered with the perfect conversation starters for your upcoming social events.
Mikaela Shiffrin's Injury
We start with a tough one for skiing fans. Mikaela Shiffrin, chasing her 100th career win, suffered a serious crash on Saturday, resulting in a puncture wound and muscle trauma. Thankfully, there was no organ or bone damage, but Shiffrin is in a lot of pain and is currently recovering. She’s been documenting her healing journey on social media—so keep an eye out for updates as she works toward her return.
Rivalry Weekend Chaos in College Football
College football’s rivalry weekend didn’t disappoint, although it did come with its fair share of chaos. In one of the most heated matchups, Michigan defeated Ohio State for the fourth year in a row, effectively ending Ohio State’s chance at the Big 12 title. The post-game scene, however, got intense—police had to use pepper spray to break up the fight that erupted, and both teams were fined $100,000.
In a truly bizarre moment, Kentucky football had a player in full uniform spotted standing at a concession stand during a blowout loss to Louisville—definitely not what you want to see in the final game of the season.
On a brighter note, Colorado’s Travis Hunter may have locked up the Heisman Trophy after a standout performance this weekend. He had ten catches, 116 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. His two-way play puts him in the spotlight for this year’s most prestigious college football award.
NFL’s My Cause My Cleats Weekend
In the NFL (National Football League), it was ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ weekend, where players partnered with charitable organizations to design custom cleats. These cleats will be auctioned off to raise funds for causes ranging from youth wellness to single parent support to disease prevention and awareness. Over half the league participated, making it a fantastic initiative to support giving back during the holiday season.
On the field, the Kansas City Chiefs locked in their playoff spot five weeks before the season ends—a massive accomplishment for the defending champions.
And for the Chicago Bears, the team made history by firing their head coach mid-season for the first time ever following a questionable Thanksgiving loss.
What’s Next?
This week, tune in for our next podcast, where we’ll discuss some of the most incredible gifts athletes have given each other—perfect for those looking for unique conversation topics during holiday parties. You can always catch us on social media at Last Night’s Game for all the latest sports news and updates.
Have a great week ahead!
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Weekend Preview: Rivalry Week In College Football, Snowstorms + Black Friday Football
A feisty weekend in sports
Happy Black Friday! We hope your Thanksgiving was full of great food and even better company. As we transition from pumpkin pie to Black Friday deals, we’re diving into a packed sports weekend full of fierce rivalries, freezing weather and some seriously high stakes. (We see you ASU). Here's what you need to know to dominate this weekend's small talk.
NFL Black Friday Game: Raiders vs. Chiefs
For the second time, the NFL (National Football League) has given us a Black Friday game on Amazon Prime. The Raiders are looking for a repeat of last year’s Christmas miracle when they beat the Chiefs in Kansas City. Can they pull it off again? With the Chiefs sitting at 10-1 this season, a Raiders win would be the Black Friday shocker we didn’t see coming.
College Football Rivalry Weekend
It’s the final weekend of the regular college football season, and rivalry games are the highlight. Here are the matchups you can’t miss:
Texas vs. Texas A&M
For the first time in 13 years, these two bitter rivals are back on the field. Dating back to 1894, this feud has history, drama and a $1,072 average ticket price—making it the priciest college football game ever. Yes, it's even more expensive than any NFL regular season game in history.Michigan vs. Ohio State
Michigan is fighting for redemption in what’s been a tough season while eyeing its fourth consecutive win in this historic rivalry against Ohio State.Nebraska vs. Iowa
Bundle up! This game will be played in freezing temperatures, with wind chills in the teens—the coldest Iowa City game since 2013.Arizona vs. Arizona State
Arizona State stunned everyone this season and has a shot at the Big 12 title game if they win. Kudos to Coach Kenny Dillingham, who celebrated a nine-win season by sharing his $200,000 bonus with 20 off-field staffers. That’s the kind of leadership we love to see.
Sunday NFL Showdown: Bills vs. 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (NFL) are clinging to playoff hopes, but they’ll face brutal Buffalo weather on Sunday. These Californians better pack their snow boots with heavy snow in the forecast. Meanwhile, Buffalo fans will feel at home as they hope for a key win.
Bundle Up and Tune In!
Whether braving the Black Friday crowds or staying cozy on the couch, this weekend’s sports lineup has something for everyone. There’s no shortage of action, from epic rivalries to snowy showdowns. Catch all the latest updates on Last Night’s Game and follow us on social for more. Happy weekend!
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