FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2012 file photo, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, and businessman Donald Trump, right, applaud on the field before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass. In the six New England states that voted for Hillary Clinton, some Patriots fans are trying to reconcile their team allegiance with their distaste for Republican President Trump. The New York billionaire has made it no secret he's good friends with team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. New England faces the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) - NEWSNOW
Not even the Super Bowl is immune to America's deep political divisions.
Patriots fans have spent nearly two full seasons being reminded of the close friendship between President Donald Trump and their team's three top figures - owner Robert Kraft, star quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick. That's put some usually united fans at odds over celebrating the chase for a fifth Super Bowl win under Brady and Belichick.
New England plays the Atlanta Falcons on Feb. 5.
Segun Idowu, a Patriots fan and civil rights activist who voted for Clinton, says he has mixed emotions about the game.
But Brian Craig, a Massachusetts Republican who voted for Trump, complains that athletes who support Trump are unfairly ostracized.
The Super Bowl offers easy symbolic foils to anyone wanting to play politics. Atlanta is the home district of U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who boycotted Trump's inauguration.
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Follow Philip Marcelo at www.twitter.com/philmarcelo . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/philip-marcelo
FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 file photo New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, stands on the sidelines with Donald Trump prior to a NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. In the six New England states that voted for Hillary Clinton, some Patriots fans are trying to reconcile their team allegiance with their distaste for Republican President Trump. The New York billionaire has made it no secret he's good friends with team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. New England faces the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this July 22, 2011 file photo, business magnate Donald Trump arrives at Temple Emmanuel, in Newton, Mass., for the funeral services for Myra Kraft, wife of New England Patriots football team owner Robert Kraft. In the six New England states that voted for Hillary Clinton, some Patriots fans are trying to reconcile their team allegiance with their distaste for Republican President Trump. The New York billionaire has made it no secret he's good friends with team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. New England faces the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2016 file photo Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reads a letter from New England Patriots NFL football coach Bill Belichick to a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H. In the six New England states that voted for Hillary Clinton, some Patriots fans are trying to reconcile their team allegiance with their distaste for Republican President Trump. The New York billionaire has made it no secret he's good friends with team owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. New England faces the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
The Associated Press