Popovich disgusted, but not surprised by Rondo's anti-gay comments
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called referee Bill Kennedy "showed a lot of courage" by coming out.
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San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters on Monday that he is disgusted, but not surprised by Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo using an anti-gay slur toward referee Bill Kennedy. Kennedy came out as gay after Rondo had been suspended for the incident.
"Why would I be surprised?" Popovich said, via the Washington Post's Tim Bontemps. "You see it all the time. It’s unfortunate, it’s disgusting, because Billy is a great guy, and has been a class act on and off the court. As far as anybody’s sexual orientation, it’s nobody’s business. It just shows ignorance to act in a derogatory way toward anybody in the LGBT community. It doesn’t make sense. But surprised, of course not. He showed a lot of courage."
As usual, Popovich sounds sensible on this subject. Kennedy's sexual orientation is indeed nobody's business, and it's unfortunate that the impetus for his coming out was something as inappropriate -- and yes, disgusting -- as a slur being used against him at work.
It's also unfortunate that Popovich is not surprised about this. If this does happen all the time on the court, then it has to stop. If there's any good that comes out of this situation, perhaps it will be that players collectively understand this behaviour will not be tolerated.
