Popovich: 'Our country is an embarrassment'

Sep 26, 2017 - 4:31 AM San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich took the opportunity of the Spurs' media to blast President Donald Trump for rescinding the Golden State Warriors' invitation to the White House and for comments about NFL players kneeling or sitting during the national anthem.

"Our country is an embarrassment in the world," Popovich said referring to Trump saying in a speech last week in Alabama that NFL owners should fire players who do not stand for the national anthem.

Trump said if NFL players kneel or sit for the anthem, NFL owners should "get that son of a bitch off the field."

When asked about Trump tweeting that Stephen Curry and the Warriors are no longer invited to the White House to celebrate their title, Popovich laughed.

"I thought it was comical that it was rescinded because they weren't going to go anyway," Popovich said. "It's like a sixth-grader is going to have a party in his backyard and he finds out somebody might not come, so he disinvites them. Although it's disgusting, it's also comical."

Popovich indicated that he will not force his players to act a certain way during the national anthem.

"Each one of them has the right and the ability to say what they would like to say and act the way they would like to act," Popovich said. "They have our full support. No matter what they might want to do or not to do, it is important to them to be respected by us, and there is no recrimination no matter what might take place unless it's ridiculously egregious."

Popovich also commented about NASCAR owners speaking out against drivers protesting while the national anthem is played.

Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt's longtime team owner, said if anyone protests, "It'll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus."

Richard Petty, owner of NASCAR's Petty Motorsports, said that anyone who protests should leave the country.

"That's where I live," Popovich said. "I had no idea that I lived in a country where people would actually say that sort of thing. I'm not totally naive, but I think these people have been enabled by an example that we've all been given.

"You have got a choice. We can continue to bounce our heads off the wall with (Trump's) conduct or we can decide the institutions of our country are more important, that people are more important, that the decent America we thought we all had and want is more important, and that we get down to business at the grassroots level and do what we have to do."