BASKETBALL : Angry Auriemma says we´re in ´Trumpian era where it´s okay to be sexist´
The United States’ women’s basketball team has dominated the Olympics, and being number one is a feeling coach Geno Auriemma knows all too well.
Auriemma has led the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team to several NCAA Championships, and has faced criticism from outsiders for being too good. Essentially the naysayers claim that having one team win all of the time is bad for the sport.
Those complaints have turned international with the coach being in the Olympics. When asked about the difference in the media saying the women’s team is too dominant, but not saying the same for men, Auriemma sounded off.
“We live in that Trumpian era where it’s okay to be sexist and degrade people that are good, just because they’re the opposite sex,” he said via Hoop Feed.
“We are what we are. We’re never going to apologize for being that good. We’re never going to apologize for setting a standard that other people aspire to achieve.
“We got a guy in the pool with a USA swim cap on who nobody can beat. And if he wasn’t in swimming, there would be a lot of other guys with gold medals. So, it is what it is. The world needs times when such great, great teams or great individuals are doing great things, that other people can talk about and other people say, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be great to be at that level?’ These are Olympians. They’re supposed to play at a high level. They’re professionals, they’re supposed to put on a show, they’re supposed to entertain. So, what are we supposed to do? Just go out there and win by a little?
“We’re not bad for women’s basketball, just like I say at UConn, we’re not bad for women’s basketball. What’s bad for women’s basketball is when nobody’s great, because then you could say, ‘You know what? I don’t think anybody really knows how to play this game.’
“I think people will say that there are some really good teams out here and when you see them play each other, they’re great games. Serbia was up 20 the other day and lost to Canada. These are great games. We just happen to be somewhere else right now. That’s okay. I don’t mind.”
It was a similar response to the criticism he has faced at UConn, and it seems like Auriemma is fed up with the nonsense.