San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich addresses racism and remembers Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day.
The country is celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. today and remembering all that he worked for during his life that was cut far too short. The NBA has been at the forefront of remembering Dr. King with games played throughout the day, many of which are marquee games, and remembrances, tributes and other special honors from teams and players.
One of the most outspoken coaches who has never been afraid to speak his mind without fear is Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich who addressed the rising racism in the country and offered up his own remembrances for Dr. King. And he did so by taking a not-s-o-subtle jab at President Trump’s comments that he’s the “least racist person” after he said people from Haiti and Africa are from “s***hole countries.”
While Trump ran and was elected on a “Make America Great Again” tag line, Popovich said it was actually Dr. King who was interested in making America great, for everyone.
I expect the stick to sports crowd will have a problem with this, and they should have a problem with that, because if they’re uncomfortable, they know Popovich is speaking the truth.
“He understood that racism was our national sin, and if everybody didn’t come together it would bring everybody down, including white people, Popovich said, via the New York Daily News. That promise that he basically demanded for America to fill from way back then is what put us on the road to make America great. At the same time, we all know the situation now. And I think he’d be a very, very sad man to see that a lot of his efforts have been held up and torn down. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking at the Voting Rights Act or the ridiculous number of people of color who are incarcerated.”
You can hear Popovich give his full response to racism in the country today and his thoughts on Martin Luther King and what he would think about the state of our country if he were alive today.
Popovich on playing on MLK Day: "If someone says that they're not a racist, you know that they are." pic.twitter.com/0s3uyW0Pzq
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) January 15, 2018
The biggest takeaway line from Popovich’s response will undoubtedly be, “If someone says that they’re not a racist, you know that they are.”
Again, another not-so-subtle shot at President Trump who has come under fire before and during his presidency for his views on race, his comments on race, his policies and his treatment toward people of color.
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Popovich is trying to keep Dr. King’s dream alive when so many aren’t. Professional sports needs more people like Popovich who aren’t afraid to use their power of influence to speak their truth.