Oakland Raiders punter Chris Kluwe saw his time with the Minnesota Vikings end amid a bit of controversy earlier this offseason. Simply put, there are a number of people who feel Kluwe would still be a Viking if he was not so outspoken when it comes to equal rights.
Last week, Kluwe made a loud statement about his commitment to the Raiders by turning down an invite to the White House. He was invited to the LGBT Pride Reception, which is being held on June 13. That date happens to fall in the middle of mandatory minicamp.
For those of you who can’t make it out, here is what the email said.
Dear Mr. President (or whoever reads these things, I’m sure he’s probably pretty busy (hello underappreciated email answering person!).
It is with great regret that I must decline your invitation to attend the Reception at the White House for LGBT Pride Month on June 13th. I would really really REALLY like to be there, but unfortunately, not even the President of the United States is allowed to supersede an NFL mandatory mini-camp practice (at least insomuchas I understand the new CBA, though I could possibly be mistaken), and as current member of the Oakland Raiders I owe it to both my teammates and my coaches to be fully prepared for the upcoming season.
I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity though, and if anything else were to ever come up it would be my distinct honor to attend. Unless we have a game. Or practice. Or mandatory hot yoga classes (we don’t really have those).
Respectfully yours,
-Chris Kluwe
p.s. If you really wanted to, I’m sure I could make late supper if an F35 were to pick me up at the field right after practice. Just saying.
p.p.s. Please don’t do that. Then I’d be “that guy” on the team. You know. “That” guy. (Plus it also seems an extremely unnecessary waste of taxpayer dollars)”
Kluwe has always been a jokester, but hidden underneath his witty sarcasm is a message for all those who feel he has been a distraction — including this former coach. He thought being a human rights activist had to do with his release from Minnesota, but Kluwe is committed to trying to make the Raiders. On Monday, Raiders coach Dennis Allen alluded to that.
“Chris Kluwe, his job is to make this football team,” Allen said, via Pro Football Talk. “He’s of the same mindset.”
Football apparently does come first for Chris Kluwe — at the moment at least.
