The Memphis Tigers got a huge win on the home court of the defending champion Louisville Cardinals last night.
Salty Cardinal fans took exception with the celebratory manner in which the Tigers left the court and starting insulting them.
Memphis head coach Josh Pastner was having none of it, and stuck up for his players letting the fans know that they have a perfect APR score and even inviting fans to come down and address him.
Pastner told them “You grow up! We have a perfect APR score!” Was in response, he said, to L’ville fans calling his players thugs on way out
— L. Jason Smith (@TheCAJasonSmith) January 10, 2014
Wasn’t close enough to get picture or video of Pastner but he was arms waving, yelling and everything. Put his headset on and did it again.
— Jonathan Lintner (@JonathanLintner) January 10, 2014
Pastner still taunting fans. Challenged one to “come on down” before radio show on the court. Clearly this is not The Price is Right.
— Matthew Willinger (@MattWillinger) January 10, 2014
Pastner doing post-game radio show with 6 police officers around him. 1 TN State Trooper & 5 LMPD officers.
— Matthew Willinger (@MattWillinger) January 10, 2014
Pastner downplayed the incident in his post-game press conference.
“I think Louisville fans are tremendous. They’re like Memphis fans. They love their team. ….The only thing I ever get sensitive on is if anybody ever says our guys are low class or anything in that manner. We have a perfect APR score. …Say I’m the worst coach in the world. Say I can’t coach zone. I’m the worst press coach. I look like I’m 13. I should be fired. I’m the worst this. I’m the worst that, but the thing that gets to me is if you say our kids (are bad) cause we’ve done a great job. That’s been a point of emphasis.”
It was totally classless for Louisville fans to hurl insults at student athletes leaving the court excited about a big win. Nothing they did was disrespectful to the players or fans. I commend coach Pastner for sticking up for his guys. That says a lot about how much he cares for his players.