The Presidential election is just days away, and American sports figures are staying vocal about their beliefs. Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs’ legendary coach, recently appeared in a political advertisement for Joe Biden. The Lincoln Project, a political action committee that opposes President Trump, put out the ad.
In the video, which appears on the group’s Twitter page, Popovich discusses Biden’s belief while wearing a San Antonio Food Bank hat. “I stand for truth over lies. I stand for equality.” The post already has over 700 thousand views.
A Vocal Coach POP
Popovich, a US Air Force veteran, has come out against the Trump Administration before. He is known for his passion for charity, equality, and social justice over recent years. The coach also consistently supports his players’ messages. He often preaches that politics shouldn’t stay out of sports.
Following the 2016 election, he said that Trump “has routinely used racist, misogynist, insulting words.� Furthermore, in 2017, Popovich told reporters, “Some days, I feel like we�ve been invaded by another power taken over [by people] who don�t feel the same.” Later that year, he indirectly called Trump’s words “disingenuous, cynical,�and fake.”
Popovich is not the only sportsperson to recently publicize his opinion on current politics. Also, basketball stars Karl Anthony-Towns, Udonis Haslem, and Matt Barnes are in Florida campaigning for Joe Biden. In contrast, NFL legend Brett Farve took to Twitter to endorse President Trump for re-election.
Owners, Too?
As players and coaches express their political views, owners are quieter and more discrete. However, they often attempt to hide political donations, known as “dark money.” As the NBA becomes more politically active, wealthy owners fear publically supporting candidates and risking their appearances. According to Charles Lewis via ESPN, “It’s not Republican or Democrats. It’s both. It’s ugly, and it’s uglier than ever.” Lewis is the founder of the Center for Public Integrity, which advocates for improved journalism. Except for maybe Mark Cuban, there’s a good chance you won’t find NBA owners in political ads any time soon.
