Popovich Slams Trump as "a Soulless Coward"
In an era of renewed political activism in major American sports leagues, Gregg Popovich has the assuredness of a seasoned veteran. The San Antonio Spurs head coach is a five-time NBA champion and a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he has always had vision that extends beyond the game. The Wall Street Journal once explored quite wonderfully how Popovich discusses and tests his players on American history and current events, with the ultimate goal that they will be more informed and discerning citizens. He has mused openly about whether America is an empire in decline akin to Rome, and how Donald Trump seems to think the presidency is "a game show."
“This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward."
So it was no surprise to see an interviewwith Popovich after the same Donald J. Trump produced one of the more grotesque lies in a years-long line of them Monday. Trump threw out the wild accusation that President Obama and "others" among his presidential predecessors did not call the families of American military servicemembers killed in combat. This was not true in any way, but Trump seemed to throw it out there to see if it would stick - and to deflect attention from the fact he had not yet spoken publicly about the deaths of four Green Berets in Niger two weeks ago.
The appalling episode struck such a chord with Popovich, an Air Force veteran, that he called up Dave Zirin of The Nation and insisted his comments go on the record. He did not disappoint.
“I’ve been amazed and disappointed by so much of what this president had said, and his approach to running this country, which seems to be one of just a never ending divisiveness. But his comments today about those who have lost loved ones in times of war and his lies that previous presidents Obama and Bush never contacted their families are so beyond the pale, I almost don’t have the words.”
At this point, Zirin said, he thought Popovich didn't have the words to go forward with the conversation. But then:
“This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others. This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner - and to lie about how previous presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers - is as low as it gets. We have a pathological liar in the White House, unfit intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically to hold this office, and the whole world knows it, especially those around him every day. The people who work with this president should be ashamed, because they know better than anyone just how unfit he is, and yet they choose to do nothing about it. This is their shame most of all.”
And then Popovich hung up. He's part of the original cast of The Justice League, a cast that is growing by the day to include some of the greatest athletes this world has ever seen. How many are really willing to argue with his points here, and how many more will be singing the same tune as the NBA season shifts into gear?
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