Random thoughts on the Eagles/White House controversy:

• I was lucky enough to be on the grounds in 2009 when the Phillies visited the White House. The visit had to be postponed due to the tragic death of Harry Kalas. It was a well attended affair, and one I know I will never forget. It was chock full of… well… ex-pat Philly fans working as journalists in DC. I don’t remember throngs of fans passing through security to see the photo op, so I’m not sure where “a thousand” Eagles fans were coming from. Particularly since it was widely reported several of those who attended, when pressed, had no idea who the Eagles QB was in the Super Bowl.

• It seems odd to me that only about 10 players planned to attend, when all is said and down. If it were near half, I’d buy that. Throwing out the large majority that didn’t vote, nearly half those who did supported Trump. That is usually reflected in an organization. To me, that implies an actual conflict developed, for whatever reason, or the player’s association stepped in and said don’t go. The NFL gains nothing by this. Not that I should be, but I don’t see where the team gains from this. The union makes sense, because the team and the league have been tight-lipped about it. That would also explain negotiations over a date when Trump would be out of town, to try to avoid a scene.

• Trump will always play hardball with the NFL. This has nothing to do with the flag or the anthem. This has everything to do with his failed attempts to join the NFL “club” for the last 40 years, or so. He will use his bully pulpit at every opportunity to put the league in a bad light, and if it plays to his base, that’s gravy.

• It is a tradition for championship teams to be invited to the White House. For a president to get some swag, a photo op, and heap a little glory on the celebration. The players get a tour, and everyone gets to press a little flesh. It is an honor, and citizens are within their rights to turn down that honor. For some reason, given all the water under the bridge, it feels some view it is an obligation to bend the knee and kiss the ring. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can honor the office without honoring the resident, if I so choose. Many would have agreed with me just a few short years ago. Rest assured, they don’t now.

• It doesn’t make me popular, but people fought and died for the right not to salute a flag or stand during the national anthem. These are symbols of our country, but they are not the country. The country is our Constitution. The laws which bind us, and allow for freedom of expression. The Founders fought for that right. If they hadn’t protested, we’d still be British.

• It is a sad state of affairs that we have allowed this to degenerate into something it wasn’t. Colin Kaepernick’s decision to take a knee was at the suggestion of a veteran, citing soldiers taking a knee to salute fallen comrades. It was a way to make his statement while still honoring the sacrifices of those who gave him the right to speak out. Lost now in the noise of those who refuse to listen or arm themselves with facts is a sizable portion of our society feels targeted and in danger. All I can say is I have heard stories from friends about being profiled that I found shocking. There seem to be statistics to back that up. Short of walking in the other man’s shoes, it might be best not to judge.

• It would all be a lot simpler if our athletes “just dribbled” and kept their mouths shut. If actors would just act. Maybe that’s because we want to believe they think like us and if we met on the street we’d be friends. Well, that’s not how it works. With celebrity comes a platform. It can even get you elected president. Most of us aren’t celebrities, and we spout our unsolicited opinion to anyone and everyone on social media. That all gonna change because you’re famous? Didn’t think so.

• Yes, these football players make a lot of money. They also get their bodies and minds destroyed. You didn’t mind when they were laying it out week after week so you could bandwagon and gloat over how “we” won. And most aren’t going to care what happens to these guys in a few years. They are no more or less citizens of this country because they are paid to play football, and have every right to exercise their liberty as they see fit, so long as it doesn’t violate the law.

One of the joys of living in DC on and off the last 30 years was having a strong public radio station. When I was in college at American University, I listened to “A Prairie Home Companion” on the station with the callsign of my own university, WAMU. It is a relationship that prevailed over the years, even when I moved out of the city to West Virginia, primarily because of two programs: Ed Walker’s “The Big Broadcast” and Rob Bamberger’s “Hot Jazz Saturday Night.”

Sadly, Mr. Walker passed away a couple of years ago, and no one else is the same for me. But his exit was natural. Mr. Bamberger’s was something else:

“In the likely (and understandable) event you were watching the Caps play tonight instead of listening to HJSN, I wanted to share with you that WAMU announced earlier this evening a slate of upcoming program changes. Among them is the cancellation of Hot Jazz Saturday Night. My last broadcast will be on June 23rd. You can find a link to the station’s press release on the home page, www.wamu.org.

The station will be moving LIVE FROM HERE, the successor to A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, to air 8:00-10:00, followed by LIVE WIRE, at 10:00 P.M. Judy Carmichael’s JAZZ INSPIRED will be replaced with an additional hour of news from the BBC.

If you wish to hear my comment from this evening’s program, it begins roughly ten minutes into the final hour. The program stream should be available tomorrow. I will try to arrange for it to be excerpted, with a separate link, on Monday.

I am seeing so many wonderful expressions of sorrow and support. Thank you all.”

A unique local program, one that has actively supported the local jazz scene, has been replaced by canned content. Public radio content, but canned, nonetheless.

Certainly this decision was financial, but listeners have supported this station, ad specifically this program, for years. I understand, it’s a business. Even public radio. But I am also making a business decision. I’m done with WAMU. The national programming I can get from WV Public Broadcasting, and the public affairs doesn’t interest me. “Hot Jazz Saturday Night” was my reason for continuing to listen. You have told me you don’t need me.

So be it.

Rob Bamberger, thank you for your time and your talent. I still remember seeing you at the Starland Café listening to Brooks Tegler’s group. DC jazz royalty. As a jazz fan and mediocre musician, I thank you for all you have done to promote jazz of the 20s, 30s and 40s, as well as the modern artists who dedicate themselves to that sound, and the local jazz scene.

You will be missed.