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Sports

Report: Trump Set to Bring on Pal Bill Belichick to Official Sports Council

The New England Patriots head coach is set to join a ragtag crew that includes Dr. Oz as well.
Photo by Geoff Burke—USA TODAY Sports

As if Tom Brady's MAGA hat and the letter Bill Belichick wrote in support of Trump's campaign weren't already enough, now the relationship between the White House and the New England Patriots seems to be headed for a certifiable upgrade. Axios is reporting that Trump is set to appoint Belichick to his "Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition."

First, of all, that's hilarious because Trump is doing something that pertains to sports, fitness, and nutrition. But second of all, Belichick is signing on to that sinking ship?

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The council predates Trump, with Michelle Obama heading Barack's version of the council, particularly in the nutrition regard. But it seems like Trump wants to ramp up the sports aspect, with Ivanka having pushed for kids to take up sports during the Winter Olympics.

Axios claims to have spoken to a source "with direct knowledge" that also claims that Dr. Oz is on board, as well as golfer Natalie Gulbis, beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, and former Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera. Unclear what they all will talk about, but that's the crew set to get more kids playing sports.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that Trump's chief of staff John Kelly was baffled by the length of a phone call Trump held with the football coach—as opposed to, I dunno, other heads of state:

Mr. Kelly marveled that Mr. Trump had spent a long time the day before on the phone with Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots coach, talking about the status of Tom Brady, the star quarterback, according to two people familiar with his remarks, one of whom was present.

We will say this: it is a departure from virtually every single other hiring in the Trump administration, because not only is Bill Belichick familiar with his new task, he is generally regarded as one of the all-time greats in sports. Trump finally making good on his promise to only hire the "best people." Good thing it's for sports.