Here we go again…
What is it with this recent string of sports figures putting their feet in their mouths? It makes you wish ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” would bring back the “Just Shut Up” award.
Enter Mike Francesa—nicknamed “The Sports Pope” and well-known afternoon host on New York sports radio station WFAN.
Francesa apparently was reminded that Becky Hammon, one of the WNBA’s 20@20 greatest players of all time, is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Francesa argued that it would be the furthest Hammon would advance because a woman would not command the same respect as a man in his eyes.
He even believes that Pat Summitt would not have made it in the NBA coaching ranks.
Pat. Summitt.
Huh? Come Again?
Needless to say the Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich offered the perfect clapback to Francesa’s latest case of speaking without thinking.
Pop on Francesa saying Hammon has no shot to be NBA head coach: “I don’t pay any attention to it because it’s nonsense.” @DavidFloresKENS
— David Flores (@DavidFloresKENS) March 5, 2017
Francesa’s welcome to his take. Becky Hammon has already won an NBA summer league title. Pro players don’t consider Summer League a stunt. https://t.co/LbBczdTScb
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 6, 2017
And ever since Francesa’s initial comments, a Wall Street Journal went full Team Hammon, offering a $1,000 bet to the Sports Pope on the grounds that Hammon would be an NBA head coach in the next five years.
Here’s my $1000 charity bet offer to WFAN’s Mike Francesa: I’ll bet him Becky Hammon is an NBA coach within 5 years. https://t.co/1HQQRtzYpT
— Jason Gay (@jasongay) March 3, 2017
At least Francesa will be departing from WFAN at the end of this year. As for Becky Hammon, we think she will continue to be her, competing for championships with the Spurs coaching staff…
Photo Credit: John Locher/AP
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
