San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich doesn't shy away from discussing hot-button political issues.
On the Sunday before the Spurs' game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he won the Democratic Sense. Joe Manchin and Kirsten Cinema, who voted with Republicans to block progress on a comprehensive voting rights bill that was supported by Democrats and US President Joe Biden. The vote on Wednesday night to end debate on the bill was downgraded to 51-49, with every Republican voting against moving the bill.
Popovich's remarks came after he was asked about Juneteenth becoming a national holiday.
"As many have said, it's time, it's past time for hardball," Popovich said. "The Republican Senate just won't participate, they just won't. So, whatever can be done, needs to be done. And cinema and Manchin, they get it, but they don't get it. They know." That's what's happening. They understand. But there are more important things to them, and that's very selfish and dangerous for our country."
Popovich continued the discussion about inequality during a nine-minute session with reporters.
"It's ironic, but as much as the community of color has been oppressed and slandered, the same people are trying to save this damn country," Popovich said. "It's just ironic to me. Every time we step forward, you get a reaction. The fact that the issue of voting rights is in that position is just mind boggling in a sense to me, because we It was back in the 60's, and we know what the Supreme Court did before to destroy it.
"But it's like we don't get it. It seems, if not for black people, there probably wouldn't be a democracy."
Popovich closed the target by targeting the Senate.
Popovich said, "It seems that [with] the Senate, mostly old white people, it all comes down to being afraid of the mob and race and power, and they don't want to face it."
Last year, Popovich said that then-President Donald Trump should have been removed from office after a rebellion at the US Capitol. A few months ago, Popovich called Trump "neurotic" and said he was "ashamed as a white man" when he addressed the death of George Floyd.