San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich marches to the beat of his own drum and that includes refusing to have a school named after him.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has accomplished many things during his career. He has won five NBA championships with the Spurs. He has over 1,000 career wins. He will be the next head coach of the United States Men’s basketball team. He could be adding another honor to his resume: having a school named after him. A San Antonio resident named Emmanuel Casasola has started a petition to rename Robert E. Lee High School after Popovich.
"“I’m not advocating to change the name, but if it does change, it should be to honor one of our own,” Casasola said in a phone interview with mySA.com. “I think Popovich exemplifies several of the characteristics young people of today should strive for – leadership, commitment, loyalty and the way he and RC Buford have created an organization that is envied in all sports.” – My SA"
Most people would be flattered to have a school named after them. This isn’t a secret, but Gregg Popovich doesn’t qualify as “most people”.
"“You got to be kidding,” Popovich said when told of the petition. “Are you serious? I would hope that you would use all your muscle or whatever you have to squash that ridiculous idea as soon as humanly possible. Can you please do that for me? Squash that ridiculous idea right now. That is laughable.” – My SA"
Popovich went on to insult America’s obsession with celebrities because, well, he’s Gregg Popovich.
"“It’s probably the obsession America has with celebrity,” Popovich said. “If you reach any level of celebrity, there is going to be somebody who is going to take it too far, attach to you qualities that are not there, or glory you don’t deserve, that kind of crap. It happens all the time.”"
Popovich is probably too focused on winning his sixth NBA title to worry about petty things like having a school named after him. His Spurs are off to an 8-2 start as Popovich will try to get at least one more title out of his famous core of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.