In a random turn of events during his media availability after practice Wednesday, coach Ralph Friedgen answered an innocuous, football-related question about Canadian-born defensive back Michael Carter this way:
“We have a lot of political talks, Michael and I,” Friedgen said in slightly hushed tones. “I think he’s a Socialist.”
Ralph didn’t say whether this is why Carter has been mostly blacklisted from the playing field this season.
In the spirit of how far our country has come these past 50 years, I decided to give Carter a chance to explain himself, rather than just alert the authorities right away.
Carter, fittingly wearing a bright red sweatshirt, laughed when I asked him if he was in fact a Socialist.
“I think the U.S. should have free healthcare, and it would be better for everybody,” Carter, of Windsor, Ontario said. “[Friedgen] was like ‘Mike, you know it’s probably not as good [in Canada] as it is in the states when you pay for it. You could be getting anything,’ which is not true. I think it works, and I don’t pay for anything.”
“Obama for president,” Carter added.
So Michael Carter is not a full-fledged Socialist, but Ralph will probably keep an eye on him, anyway.