American football coach Bill Belischik is under intense pressure in the United States to turn down a big prize from US President Donald Trump. It was announced Sunday that the outgoing president wants to award the coach the Medal of Freedom, the highest award a citizen can receive in the United States.
Belichick (68) had coached the New England Patriots for twenty years, resulting in no fewer than six Super Bowl wins. Trump wants to mark the successful and beloved coach in the final days of his presidency.
However, given that Trump has seriously discredited his supporters’ storming of the Capitol, Bilesik is being called on from various sides not to accept the medal. On Monday, Democrats began impeachment proceedings against Trump, who should hand over the presidency to Joe Biden on Jan.20.
Bob Ryan, a prominent sports journalist for the Boston Globe wrote: “If it is true that Bilesic accepted the Medal of Freedom from the disgraceful occupier in the White House, then he is dead to me.” “Please tell me you won’t do this, Bill.”
Politician Jim McGovern, who represents Massachusetts (the Patriots state) in the House, described it as “a shame” for the coach to accept the medal. “The only right thing Bill Belisik could say is no thank you.”
Belichick has not yet responded
Many football club fans also demanded Bilesik not to go to the White House to receive the Trump Medal of Freedom. They fear that this will damage the club’s name and cause conflict within the team.
Four years ago, Bleschik showed he was a Trump supporter when he ran for the first time for president. During his tenure, Trump clashed a lot with NFL players, who knelt before matches to protest systemic racism in the United States.
Bilesic and the New England Patriots have yet to formally respond to Trump’s request. The team has lost just over half of the games this season and missed the playoff matches.
