The American President: Facing threats of nuclear war with North Korea and dealing with natural disaster in several states as well as Puerto Rico, President Trump started a spat with professional football and basketball players, injecting himself into a debate about race, social justice, policing, and the public role of athletes.

Trump may have triggered a major backlash.  Seventy-four percent of NBA players are black, and 70 percent of NFL players are black.

After Stephen Curry of the Golden State warriors said he didn’t want to go to the White House for the traditional championship team visit because of what he says the President represents, Trump appeared to disinvite the entire team, tweeting, “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!”

The Warriors responded that the entire team would skip the White House visit.

Among other athletes who reacted, Cleveland’s LeBron James, one of the most famous athletes in the country, addressed Trump in a tweet as “U bum.”

Over the past two days Trump has also called for the firing of football players who take a knee in protest during the national anthem. Just this past week another police officer was acquitted of murder in the killing of an unarmed black motorist — exactly the kind of thing they are protesting.

Trump tweeted, “If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect…. …our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!”

Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell yesterday became the first MLB player to kneel during the anthem. He tweeted, “Don’t be surprised if you start seeing athletes kneeling in other sports now!! Comments like that coming from our president. WOW!”

Trump was up this morning tweet-feeding the fire. “If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend! …NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.”

The Threatdown: North Korea’s foreign minister told the UN General Assembly yesterday that President Trump is on a suicide mission with his threats to the Hermit Kingdom.

Ri Yong Ho called Trump “a mentally deranged person full of megalomania and complacency” with his finger on the “nuclear button.” He said, Trump’s insulting moniker “rocket man” for leader Kim Jong-Un makes “our rocket’s visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more.”

Flexing muscles, the US yesterday flew B-1 bombers and F-15 fighter escorts off the coast of North Korea. A Pentagon statement said, “This mission is a demonstration of U.S. resolve and a clear message that the President has many military options to defeat any threat.”

Tremors: Mexico’s Oaxaca region was rocked yesterday by a 6.1 magnitude aftershock to the Sept. 7 quake that rated at 8.1. Rescue crews in Mexico City briefly paused for the shaker, then went back to work. They are focusing on eight collapsed buildings, hoping to find survivors.

Aftershock: Troubles are deepening for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. The island is short on drinkable water and running low on medicines. There is no power, no telephones, cellphones, or internet. Large areas are cut off by impassable roads and bridges with no way for residents to ask for help from the outside world.

The Bouncing Ball: Unhappy NY Knick basketball star Carmelo Anthony has been traded to Oklahoma City. Anthony and the Knicks both wanted a divorce. The Washington Post reports that, “The trade would match Anthony with NBA league MVP Russell Westbrook and Paul George, giving the Thunder a one-year superteam that could compete with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets in the Western Conference.”

Keeping Up: Twenty-year-old Kylie Jenner, who is famous for being famous, is pregnant with the child of her boyfriend, rapper Travis Scott. Jenner is a reality television star, so evidently real sex was involved.

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