Amid the social unrest and controversy surrounding the NFL and NBA this weekend after comments from President Donald Trump, the San Antonio Spurs' Media Day was led with questions about the former's comments, topic which head coach Gregg Popovich didn't hesitate to delve into.
“Our country is an embarrassment to the world,” said Popovich, according to Melissa Rohlin of the San Antonio Express-News, swinging a heavy bat from the start when asked about Trump's decision to rescind an invitation to the reigning champions that was never extended in the first place. ““I thought it was comical that it was rescinded because they weren’t going to go anyway. It’s like a sixth grader is going to have a party in his backyard and he finds out somebody might not come, so he disinvites them. Although it’s disgusting, it’s also comical.”
Popovich has been one of the most vocal anti-Trump voices in the NBA coaching ranks, along with the likes of Steve Kerr and Stan Van Gundy. The 68-year-old does so despite being in the red state of Texas, in a similar way Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has profusely darted shots at Trump during his campaign.
The long-tenured Spurs coach noted how unlike the NBA, owners in NASCAR have chosen to aggressively protest against their car drivers protesting the anthems, with the likes of Richard Childress; Dale Earnhardt’s longtime team-owner, said if anyone protests, “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus” as well as how Richard Petty, owner of Petty Motorsports, said that anyone who protests should just leave the country.
Popovich noted the White House had been instilled with “childishness,” “gratuitous fear-mongering” and “race-baiting” which called for civilians to do what it takes to affect change.
“The bar has been lowered so far that I think it’s more important to be thinking about what to do in a more organic roots, base level,” he said. “Thinking about the efforts to restrict voter registration, comments that demean cultures, ethnic groups, races, women. Those sorts of things.”
Popovich has long been a proponent of actions speaking louder than words and insisted that “the elephant in the room” — referring to white-privilege, needs to be addressed.
“Unless it is talked about constantly it is not going to get better,” Popovich said. “…There has to be an uncomfortable element in the discourse for anything to change.”
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