Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs have doubled down on President Trump.
Just days after Popovich called the president a “soulless coward” for accusing former presidents of not calling families of fallen soldiers (a complete fabrication, it turns out), before yesterday’s home opener, the team played a video over its scoreboard calling for unity. It was played immediately after players stood for the national anthem, and while it played, players from both the Spurs and visiting Minnesota Timberwolves locked arms, per ESPN. (Former Spurs’ stars Tim Duncan and David Robinson were in attendance and also locked arms with players.)
Quick Popovich reaction: Thanked the fans for embracing the message before the game on the importance of social equality #Spurs pic.twitter.com/p66PdS5Kuy
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) October 19, 2017
The “thunderous” reaction from fans said it all.
“I want to congratulate our fans on the way they reacted at the beginning of the game after the national anthem was played,” Popovich said to reporters after the game (see above). “They obviously also buy into the messages that were set up on the JumboTron. I’m so proud to be in this city when we have fans that understand that it’s important for everybody. Kudos to our fans.”
The message read as follows:
“There are things happening in our communities that need our attention. We understand your desire to attend our games as an escape and chosen form of entertainment. In that, we feel there is a significant commonality in all of us that allows our community to be so special. That commonality should include aspirations for social justice, freedom of speech in its many forms, and equal opportunity for education, and economic advancement regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion. It is our hope that we can, as a community, inspire and evoke real change. We ask that you join with us in your daily lives in the pursuit of equality. And in that, we honor our country by exercising demands for what this great nation has promised and what our military continues to fight for.”
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