Final Four coaches release statement on Indiana's new law

[liberal N proud]

All four head coaches of the Final Four teams in the Men's NCAA Tournament released a statement Wednesday, defending the NCAA's stance on Indiana's new religious freedom law.

"We are aware of the recent actions in Indiana and have made a point to talk about this sensitive and important issue among ourselves and with our teams. Each of us strongly supports the positions of the NCAA and our respective institutions on this matter — that discrimination of any kind should not be tolerated. As a part of America's higher education system, college basketball plays an important role in diversity, equality, fairness and inclusion, and will continue to do so in the future."

The four coaches, Kentucky's John Calipari, Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Wisconsin's Bo Ryan and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, made the statement during a conference call. Their statement defends the one the NCAA released soon after the bill was signed.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/final-four-coaches-release-statement-on-indianas-new-law/ar-AAajTKT?ocid=iehp

[misterhighwasted]

1. I do hope all stand still in their original opinion until this law is Repealed.

Nothing less than that.

[libdem4life]

2. Wow. That statement almost trumps WalMart. The Final Four is the crown

jewel of college basketball, watched by millions. Wonder what the NBA will do...Playoffs coming up. Most of the players are black and they know first hand what happens to those less talented than they.

Then there is Chris Rock...filming getting pulled over by police 3 times in 7 days or so.

We're growing up as a culture. Slowly, but surely. I have more hope today than I had last week. Homophobia is no longer either cool or wink-wink-nudge-nudge.

[cascadiance]

3. Izzo and Ryan should join with the Big Ten to also move the 2016 Big Ten Tournament...

... from Indianapolis to Chicago, which it had been alternating over its history.

This tourney has been expanded to go to DC and subsequently New York in 2017 and 2018 anyway. So, taking out Indianapolis wouldn't probably hurt the Big Ten much, and it would help make the point and perhaps take even more money away from Indianapolis's arenas since the Big Ten has its tournaments in Indianapolis more frequently than the NCAA does.

[JackBeck]

4. It's amazing how quickly this country is changing.

Ten years ago we would never have heard a statement from any professional sports teams supporting diversity and inclusion.