Sage Steele is not exactly rushing back into the NBA world. And if her latest story is anything to go by, Doc Rivers is not helping with the sales pitch.
The former ESPN personality has been pretty open about her frustrations with the sports-media business. She has also made it clear that her political views have sometimes put her at odds with people in the sports world.
Now, Steele says one NBA heavyweight took things directly to her DMs.
Sage Steele says that Doc Rivers DM'd her, calling her an idiot for supporting the current administration, for supporting Trump.
Via The Robin Report.
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According to Steele, Doc Rivers slammed her after she showed support for Donald Trump. Apparently, the direct-message button was feeling a little too powerful that day.
“Just knowing that so many of them are full of sh*t with what they say versus what they do. And seeing the passive aggressiveness from some of these head coaches, whether it’s Steve Kerr or Doc Rivers — these people that I used to call a friend, especially Doc,” Steele said.
After previously calling Rivers a friend, Steele says any recent interactions have been limited to the now-former NBA head coach sending her DMs to complain about her pivot to being an openly conservative talker.
“I’m going to show you later, the DMs from this man,” Steele continued. “Pages and pages of why I’m such an idiot to be a Republican or conservative and support Donald Trump. Out of the blue, he would send me clips, and I’m like, ‘I just want to talk basketball with you’ or ‘How are your kids…?’
“Instead, it’s, ‘I’m so disappointed’ and the sellout thing with a coach. That’s what turns people off with sports. It doesn’t mean you can’t have that opinion. I did too. I just happened to not do it when I was working in sports.”
This whole situation is another reminder that sports are supposed to be an escape, except they really aren’t anymore.
Fans tune in for jump shots, dunks and ridiculous playoff drama. Then politics walks onto the court wearing sneakers.
Steele’s comments will likely spark plenty of debate. Some will side with her, others will defend Rivers.
And the internet will do what it does best: argue about it for three days straight.
