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You can always count on Pop to tell it like it is 
Popovich on government shutdown: Children fighting over toys
DENVER — You never know what to expect from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in one of his pre-game or post-game media sessions.
In the tense moments before Game 6 of the Spurs’ 2011 first-round series against the Grizzlies — I’m pretty sure SpursNation hasn’t fogotten that series — there wasn’t much left to ask Popovich in his pre-game presser after a couple of off days of over-analysis of how his No. 1 seeded team had found itself facing elimination at the hands of the No. 8 seed. Since the game was being played on the same day as the royal wedding (Prince William and Kate Middleton) I asked Pop, a keen observer of the world and everything in it, if he had an opinion about monarchy in the 21st century.
His response was priceless: “That’s the best question anyone’s asked me all year.” Then he followed with a reasoned examination of the pluses and minuses of monarchy.
Thus, when CBS Sports NBA reporter Matt Moore asked Popovich before Monday’s pre-season game against the Nuggets if he had discussed the government shutdown with his players, his response was sincere and to the point:
“We talk about a lot of things with the team. We haven’t gotten very specific with them about the shutdown. I don’t think they’ve been real concerned with that, especially the foreign players.
“Most foreigners think we’re pretty silly, and they’re correct. Children fighting over the toys, so to speak. It’s nothing to do with the public or what’s good for the country. It’s about winning and losing. That doesn’t do any of us much good.
“Hopefully, they’re going to get to some sort of agreement the next couple of days that might be good for the American people.
“It’s funny how each of them talks about what the American people want. The leaders from one side will talk about what the American people want. How the hell do they know what the American people want. They live in a fish bowl. The other side will say the same thing. It’s kind of comical if it wasn’t so devastatingly dramatic for so many people.
“That’s enough to get me in trouble.”
Popovich doesn’t seek trouble, but he doesn’t mind sharing his honest opinions, either.
DENVER — You never know what to expect from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in one of his pre-game or post-game media sessions.
In the tense moments before Game 6 of the Spurs’ 2011 first-round series against the Grizzlies — I’m pretty sure SpursNation hasn’t fogotten that series — there wasn’t much left to ask Popovich in his pre-game presser after a couple of off days of over-analysis of how his No. 1 seeded team had found itself facing elimination at the hands of the No. 8 seed. Since the game was being played on the same day as the royal wedding (Prince William and Kate Middleton) I asked Pop, a keen observer of the world and everything in it, if he had an opinion about monarchy in the 21st century.
His response was priceless: “That’s the best question anyone’s asked me all year.” Then he followed with a reasoned examination of the pluses and minuses of monarchy.
Thus, when CBS Sports NBA reporter Matt Moore asked Popovich before Monday’s pre-season game against the Nuggets if he had discussed the government shutdown with his players, his response was sincere and to the point:
“We talk about a lot of things with the team. We haven’t gotten very specific with them about the shutdown. I don’t think they’ve been real concerned with that, especially the foreign players.
“Most foreigners think we’re pretty silly, and they’re correct. Children fighting over the toys, so to speak. It’s nothing to do with the public or what’s good for the country. It’s about winning and losing. That doesn’t do any of us much good.
“Hopefully, they’re going to get to some sort of agreement the next couple of days that might be good for the American people.
“It’s funny how each of them talks about what the American people want. The leaders from one side will talk about what the American people want. How the hell do they know what the American people want. They live in a fish bowl. The other side will say the same thing. It’s kind of comical if it wasn’t so devastatingly dramatic for so many people.
“That’s enough to get me in trouble.”
Popovich doesn’t seek trouble, but he doesn’t mind sharing his honest opinions, either.