OAKLAND — In the wake of democrat Doug Jones’ victory over republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s special election to fill the United States Senate seat in Alabama, Steve Kerr fired off a pair of choice tweets.
“Roll Tide!”
Roll Tide!
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) December 13, 2017
“War Eagle!”
War Eagle!
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) December 13, 2017
Asked about the tweets, which referenced Auburn and Alabama, the state’s twin football superpowers, Kerr flashed his wry sense of humor.
“I couldn’t resist,” he said after breaking his own self-imposed rule not to tweet about politics. “It’s bowl season. It’s bowl season. I’m a big SEC football fan.”
Kerr, who has become famous for consistently voicing social commentary and never shying away from criticizing president Donald Trump, insisted the situation was about far more than partisan politics.
“If we put a known pedophile in the Senate, what would that have said about us?” Kerr said of Moore whose campaign was marred by accusations of sexual abuse and child molestation. “So, let’s get to the point where this is all about us and not them — leadership, character, morality — let’s be better and that’s a good start.”
Kerr added that he has no time for the detractors who tell players and coaches to “stick to sports.”
“I don’t remember the last time I spoke about politics,” Kerr said. “But I’m asked about it a lot. It’s not my main focus, but it’s something I think is important and I think today is a really important day.”
The head coach opened his Wednesday morning film-session by addressing the election. David West, an outspoken critic of Trump, laughed heartily when asked what Kerr said to the team.
“It was interesting this morning,” West said as he shook his head and continued to laugh.
West said events like the election in Alabama help put what he does at his day job with the Warriors in perspective.
“I’m still a little perplexed as to how he got this far, how he got so many votes,” West said. “But he didn’t win. So, it’s a start.”
kbuscheck@sfexaminer.com
