Gregg Popovich: ‘Embarrassed as a white person’
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he’s “embarrassed as a white person” that George Floyd could die in such a “nonchalant” manner.
The 71-year-old Popovich addressed Floyd’s death in a video released Saturday by the Spurs as part of the team’s #SpursVoices social media series.
Floyd was in handcuffs when a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Derek Chauvin is charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
“In a strange, counterintuitive sort of way, the best teaching moment of this recent tragedy, I think, was the look on the officer’s face,” Popovich said. “For white people to see how nonchalant, how casual, just how everyday-going-about-his job, so much so that he could just put his left hand in his pocket, wriggle his knee around a little bit to teach this person some sort of a lesson — and that it was his right and his duty to do it, in his mind . ...
“I think I’m just embarrassed as a white person to know that that can happen. To actually watch a lynching. We’ve all seen books, and you look in the books and you see black people hanging off of trees . ... But we just saw it again. I never thought I’d see that, with my own eyes, in real time.
“It’s like the neighborhood where you know there’s a dangerous corner, and you know that something’s going to happen someday, and nobody does anything. And then a young kid gets killed and a stop sign goes up. Well, without getting too political, we’ve got a lot of stop signs that need to go up — quickly — because our country is in trouble. And the basic reason is race.”
Popovich said white people must help lead the charge for change.
“We have to do it. Black people have been shouldering this burden for 400 years,” Popovich said. “The only reason this nation has made the progress it has is because of the persistence, patience and effort of black people. The history of our nation from the very beginning in many ways was a lie, and we continue to this day, mostly black and brown people, to try to make that lie a truth so that it is no longer a lie. And those rights and privileges are enjoyed by people of color, just like we enjoy them. So it’s got to be us, in my opinion, that speak truth to power, and call it out, no matter what the consequences. We have to speak. We have to not let anything go.”
Popovich has led the Spurs to five NBA titles and is a threetime coach of the year. He’s set to coach the United States in the Tokyo Olympics.
Players suspended for 6 months for breaking virus curfew
BEIJING — The Chinese Football Association says six members of the national under-19 squad have been suspended for six months for violating Coronavirus control measures by leaving training camp at midnight to go drinking.
The 35-player training camp in Shanghai began on May 17 and ended Saturday.
“It was a severe violation of the team’s epidemic control regulations, and caused negative impacts on the whole team,” the CFA was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.
The six players will have to sit out all matches through Nov. 30. They also face further punishment from their respective clubs. Players in China have no official organization to represent their interests and it wasn’t clear if there was any way to appeal the ban.
“They all realized the seriousness of the situation. It is a loss to the team, and of course, it will have greater effects on the players themselves,” head coach Cheng Yaodong was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
The under-19 team is to play in the Chinese third division in the upcoming season to give players more competition in preparation for upcoming Olympics.
Iowa strength coach denies ‘unethical behavior or bias’
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa football strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle denies any “unethical behavior or bias” based on race after being accused by several former players of contributing to what they allege is systemic racism in the program.
Doyle was placed on administrative leave Saturday, part of a decision made by coach Kirk Ferentz in what he called “a defining moment” for Iowa’s football program.
Several black former players posted on social media Friday night about issues they saw in the football program, attributing many of them to Doyle. The 51-year-old assistant coach issued a statement Sunday on Twitter in which he applauds the “courage” of the former players and says he is “proud of them” for speaking out, but disputes the claims.
“I have been asked to remain silent, but that is impossible for me to do,” Doyle wrote. “There have been statements made about my behavior that are not true. I do not claim to be perfect. I have made mistakes, learned lessons and, like every American citizen, can do better.
“At no time have I ever crossed the line of unethical behavior or bias based on race. I do not make racist comments and I don’t tolerate people who do.”
Chicago Bears guard James Daniels, who played at Iowa from 2015-17, tweeted Friday night that there are “too many racial disparities in the Iowa football program. Black players have been treated unfairly for far too long.” Former defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie tweeted that the “real change” for the program needs to start with Doyle.
Ferentz said Saturday the school would conduct an independent review into the situation, with all parties able to participate and voice their opinions.
“I am confident that a complete review of the body of work over 21 years will speak for itself and I am trusting the process to respect the rights and experiences of all parties involved,” said Doyle, who has been at Iowa since 1999. “There are countless men of character who are better fathers, husbands, activists, leaders and contributors to society due to their experience at Iowa Football. The record will show this.”
Green Bay hires Will Ryan, son of ex-Badgers coach Bo Ryan
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay is turning its basketball program over to Will Ryan, the son of former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.
Athletic director Charles Guthrie announced Sunday that the school and Ryan have agreed to a deal in principle, though final contract details are still being worked out.
“Hiring leaders is about getting the right fit at the right time, and I have no doubt that Coach Ryan is exactly the right person to lead our program today and into the future,’’ Guthrie said in a statement.
The 41-year-old Ryan comes to Green Bay after posting a 14-13 record in his lone season as the head coach at Division II program Wheeling in West Virginia. He previously worked as an assistant at Ohio (2014-19) and North Dakota State (200714).
He worked on his father’s Wisconsin staff from 2002-07, where he served as a director of basketball operations and video coordinator. Bo Ryan was Wisconsin’s coach from 200115 after previously coaching at Wisconsin-Platteville and Milwaukee.
Will Ryan replaces Linc Darner, who went 92-80 and posted a winning record in all but one of his five seasons at Green Bay. After the Phoenix went 17-16 this season, Green Bay officials announced last month that the university and coach had “decided to part ways.”