Sports gambling vs. game integrity: Sports betting is legal in 38 states — including Massachusetts — and Washington, D.C. While many see the economic benefits, easy access to gambling can be dangerousand some critics worry about how it happens affects the integrity of the sport. “There will be corruption and the only question is: will it be massive corruption or will it be ordinary, standard corruption?” Trump said on the podcast. “You can’t police. It’s very hard to police, especially when they’re gambling on phones and stuff.”

NIL and the future of college sports: so-called name, image and likeness legislation it allowed college athletes to actually earn a salary while maintaining amateur status. Gray asked Trump if he thought college sports would still exist in their current form in the next five to 10 years. “No, not really,” Trump said. “I don’t think the coaches do either. It won’t be the same. you could have some very rich athletes. Some schools will probably reach the top.”

Regarding the NFL kickoff rule: “I see that start and I think it’s weird,” Trump said. “That thing looks weird, coach (Belichick). I hope you like it, but I think it hurts the game. When you have something good, you don’t change it. And I don’t see why it’s safer. Why is it safer? They still crash. But if the coach likes it, I’m fine. But boy, I watched it a few weeks ago for the first time and I was like, ‘What the hell am I doing to football?'”

Belichick agreed: “I’m a traditionalist, so I don’t like those changes either. I think we have a great game now. Try to keep it as much as football as we know it.”

About NFL safety: Gray reminded Trump of his comments in 2019, when then-Pres said it would be “hard” for him to allow his son Barron to play football amid growing concerns about the safety of the sport. Trump said the NFL has made an effort to make the game safer, but said violence is a cornerstone of the game.

“I think they’ve done a lot, but it’s still a very violent game, and that’s why people watch it,” Trump said. “It’s risky. You don’t have to let your child play. I would say that, you know, it’s a pretty dangerous game. And there are more dangerous games when you look at bull riding – explain that one – and other things, other things, but no, it’s a violent game and they do everything you can with helmets.”

One of the NFL’s newest helmet safety initiatives is the introduction of protective soft-shell helmet covers called Guardian caps. Trump has expressed his dislike for them.

“Now I’m looking at those headphones you’re going to end up with that. This will be the end. You know, those big chunky pads or cushions that they put on the outside of the helmet. All of a sudden they will say you have to do this. No, it’s a violent game and, you know, you either have it or you don’t.”

On whether WNBA players should earn more as the league grows in popularity: Belichick, Gray and Trump discussed the popularity of women’s sports and the WNBA in particular. Trump was quick to praise WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, but said it may not be worth changing the salary cap or salary structure to ensure fair pay.

“They might have to change that,” Trump said. “But it’s based on one player. Apparently it is. It’s kind of unbelievable. It’s a phenomenal thing (Clark) started. But very complicated. When you start getting involved in trying to recreate the markets, it gets very, very complicated. I mean, the downside is greater than the upside.”

On the ongoing PGA/LIV conflict: Gray asked Trump for his thoughts on the discord between the PGA and LIV Golf and whether he would work to resolve it if elected. Initially, he said no. “I’m going to really work on other things to be honest with you,” Trump said. “I have much bigger problems than that. I think we should have one tournament and it should have the best players from that tournament.”

He later reversed course: “I think it will come together. I could definitely help him. I could probably pull it off. I would say it will take me the better part of 15 minutes to complete this deal.”

Enabled if fans are priced out based on ticket prices and streaming services: Trump said the average American can no longer afford to attend sporting events and he will fix the problem.

“The leagues don’t take care of their fans,” he said. “They do the impossible. … It’s something I would work on.” When Gray asked what action he would take, Trump said, “I think there are things that need to be done.”

If Trump is nervous about the election: Gray compared the day before the presidential election to the day before the Super Bowl and asked Trump if he was nervous. “I feel great,” Trump said. “You know, it is what it is. I work hard.”

Then he continued: “We are against a system. I don’t see her (Kamala Harris) as a candidate. I consider the Democratic Party to be the system. It’s a system. It is what it is and it is very interesting to watch. And let’s see if I can disable that system. I did it once, with great success.”

Trump then said that there is nothing more exciting than this presidential election.

“I hate to say it, folks, but this is more exciting than any football game,” he said. “That’s a good thing and it’s going to be a very, hopefully, very interesting outcome.”

Monday’s podcast episode wasn’t the first time Belichick and Trump have interacted.

On November 7, 2016 – the day before Trump was elected President of the United States – Trump took the stage at a rally in Manchester, NH and read aloud a letter he said he had received from Belichick.

“Congratulations on a great campaign” Trump said the letter is being read. “You’ve been dealing with an incredible, skewed, negative average and you’ve come out beautifully. You have proven yourself to be the ultimate competitor and fighter. Your leadership is amazing. I’ve always had tremendous respect for you, but the toughness and perseverance you’ve shown over the past year is remarkable. Hopefully tomorrow’s election results will provide an opportunity to make America great again.”

News of Belichick’s support for Trump has garnered a lot of attention reaction — mostly negative. On Wednesday, a day after the election, Belichick emphasized his friendship with the president-elect.

“I’ve had a number of questions about a note I wrote to Donald on Monday,” Belichick said on Nov. 9, 2016. “Our friendship goes back many years and I think anyone who has spent more than five minutes with me knows that I am not a political person. My comments are not politically motivated.

“I have a friendship and loyalty to Donald,” he said.

sure enough Belichick and his then-partner, Linda Holliday, dined with Trump in March 2016 at Mar-a-Lago. After Trump’s election, however, Belichick seemed to move away from politics.

On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, spoke well of Belichick, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraftwho was apparently present at the event (Kraft donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration festivities).

“We have somebody in the audience who is under no pressure because he has a great quarterback named Tom Brady and a great coach named (Bill) Belichick — Bob Kraft,” Trump said in a speech on Jan. 19, 2017. ” So good. luck.”

When Belichick was asked about his reaction, he replied, “We’ve got a big game,” referring to a showdown with the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

New England won and then beat the Falcons in the Super Bowl. The Patriots visited the White House that spring, but Brady and others were not present. Belichick presented Trump with a New England jersey and helmet.

Wait until 2021. On January 10, The Globe reported that Trump plans to reward Belichick with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in one of his last acts as president. The decision to bestow Belichick’s highest civilian honor came just days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, prompting Belichick to decline.

“Recently, I was presented with the opportunity to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I was flattered by out of respect for what honor and admiration we have for previous recipients,” the coach wrote in a statement.

“Subsequently, the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision was made not to proceed with the award. Above all, I am an American citizen with great reverence for our nation’s values, freedom, and democracy. I know I’m also representing my family and the New England Patriots.”

“One of the most rewarding moments of my professional career came in 2020 when, through great leadership on our team, conversations about social justice, equality and human rights came to the fore and became action. Continuing these efforts while remaining true to the people, team and country they love outweighs the benefits of any individual award.”

In 2022, two New York Times reporters published a book about Trump and revealed that Trump said Belichick sought him out on a golf course in the months after he turned down the award.

Emma can be reached at [email protected] or X @_EmmaHealy_. Katie McInerney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow a @k8tmac.