Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr waded into politics once again this week to lament the “dicey path” of honoring the U.S. military at sporting events.
The NBA coach, who last year said the “totally outdated” Bill of Rights should only allow Americans to carry “a musket,” now says he sometimes feels “patronized” when organizations spotlight the duty and service of the U.S. military.
Mr. Kerr told NBC Sports in an interview published Thursday that he feels uncomfortable in stadiums for seemingly “nationalistic” celebrations.
“Sometimes, it’s really inspiring,” he said. “You see a mother and daughter or a father and son reconnected after a tour of duty, and everybody gets emotional. And sometimes it feels like we’re being patronized. Like this is being used. We’re just playing a sport here, and it feels sort of nationalistic, if that makes sense. So we are kind of wandering down a dicey path on this front.”
The coach, however, is not shy about sharing his personal politics before and after games. He has been an outspoken critic of President Trump and a fierce advocate for gun control.
“It’s easier to get a gun than it is a driver’s license. And it’s insane,” he said in June 2017. “And as somebody who has had a family member shot and killed, it just devastates me every time I read about this stuff, like what happened in Orlando, and then it’s even more devastating to see the government just cowing to the NRA and going to this totally outdated Bill of Rights, right to bear arms, you know, if you want to own a musket, fine — but come on.”
SEE ALSO: Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors head coach, blasts ‘totally outdated Bill of Rights’
Mr. Kerr’s father was killed by the Islamic Jihad militia in Beirut in 1984.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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