The Trump Pump

Nick Bosa loves him some Donald Trump.

So much so, in fact, that the San Francisco 49ers’ star defensive end has adopted the Republican president-elect’s trademark dance to celebrate on-field accomplishments. And from the looks of things, he’s started a craze among fellow athletes.

Bosa first performed the dance—called “the Trump Pump”—after sacking quarterback Baker Mayfield in the 49ers’ Nov. 10 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The dance is quite simple: All one has to do is bend his or her elbows and playfully punch the air while thrusting hips from side to side. Trump has frequently shown off his moves to the classic 1970s disco hit “Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies.

Some in the media speculate that Bosa mimicked Trump’s shimmy to troll the National Football League in the wake of Trump’s decisive election victory. The league fined Bosa $11,255 for flashing a white-and-gold “Make America Great Again” hat while crashing a televised interview involving teammates Brock Purdy and George Kittle after the 49ers’ Oct. 27 win over the Dallas Cowboys. (Bosa violated an NFL rule against using uniforms, equipment, or other gear to convey non-approved personal messages during on-field postgame interviews.)

“It was well worth it,” Bosa, who reportedly makes $34 million annually, told reporters.

Bosa’s not alone in celebrating his achievements Trump-style, either: There appears to be an abundance of video clips featuring college and pro football players busting the move. UFC fighter Jon Jones and Team USA men’s soccer player Christian Pulisic have done it, too.

The NFL has pledged not to fine players who do the Trump dance when celebrating on-field accomplishments. But CBS sparked criticism from sports fans by cutting away from a shot of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers doing the Trump Pump after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.

Blaire Fleming Associated Press/Photo by David Zalubowski

San José State wraps up crazy season

San José State University nearly became the first college women’s volleyball team ever to advance to the NCAA tournament with a male player on its roster.

Colorado State prevented that dubious distinction from happening: The Rams defeated Blaire (formerly Brayden) Fleming and the Spartans in four sets Nov. 30 at the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas.

San José State finished its season 14-7. Roughly half of SJSU’s wins, however, came by forfeit, including three against Boise State, which bowed out of its Nov. 29 conference semifinal match against the Spartans.

The Spartans’ ouster from college volleyball’s postseason came just days after a federal court in Colorado denied an injunction that would have disqualified SJSU from the Mountain West tournament.

Fleming received an all-­conference honorable mention after leading San José State in “kills” (point-scoring shots) during the regular season. Also receiving an honorable mention was teammate Brooke Slusser, who is suing over Fleming’s presence on her team. —R.H.