Shannon Sharpe wants Jill Biden to sit down somewhere.
The first lady made waves on Monday when she stated she thinks LSU and Iowa should be invited to the White House.
“I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come,” Biden said. “But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”
Fox Sports personality and hall of fame tight end Shannon Sharpe thinks this is the equivalent of a participation trophy.
“She needs to sit down. Now because the people that won, the young ladies that won, look like me, and the people that lost look like her, now we’re gonna invite the runner-up.”
“This goes back to 1865, Andrew Johnson welcomed the Brooklyn Atlantics and the Washington Nationals. The first professional baseball team to get invited to the White House, Ulysses S Grant did it in 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. WINNERS. Never in the history…”
“That’s the part of winning a national championship, the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA title. Guess what, we get invited to the White House. The losers don’t get anything. This is not a participation award. And that’s what’s watering down sports in America.”
“Little John and little Susie get an award just because they were on the team although they didn’t win anything. If you in the league, you get a trophy. No, winners get a trophy. That’s what life is about.”
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Sharpe is far from the only notable voice in the sports world to share an opinion on Biden’s recommendation.
LSU’s Angel Reese called the proposal “A JOKE” on social media.
Reese went viral herself near the end of the Tigers’ first NCAA women’s basketball national championship victory on Sunday. Reese could be seen approaching Clark before moving her open hand in front of her face – popularized by WWE star John Cena to mean “you can’t see me” – before pointing to her ring finger in a gesture some interpreted as a reference to the place her newly-acquired championship ring might sit.
Clark made a similar gesture to another player earlier in the tournament. However, she was praised while Clark has been scrutinized.
In the press conference after the victory, Reese referenced the difference in reaction she received.
“All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative,” Reese said. “I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, and y’all don’t say nothing.
“So this is for the girls that look like me. For those that want to speak up for what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you. And that’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter is going to go into a rage every time.
“And I’m happy. I feel like I’ve helped grow women’s basketball this year. (…) I’m looking forward to celebrating and then next season.”
Reese had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the 102-85 victory and won the women’s March Madness’ Most Outstanding Player award. She and Clark are expected to be back next season for their respective teams, so college basketball fans just might get another treat in seeing them face each other in the tournament again.
