Political Pundits Tell Black Basketball Players to Boycott Auburn University Due to Bruce Pearl’s Social Media Posts
Former CNN Contributor Roland Martin Warns Recruits to Avoid Bruce Pearl
Martin Cites Pearl's "Inflammatory Comments" as Reason for Boycott
Former CNN contributor Ronald Martin is urging recruits to steer clear of Bruce Pearl's Auburn basketball program, citing inflammatory comments made by the head coach.
Martin posted on Twitter, "Auburn basketball recruits, please do your research on Bruce Pearl before committing to play for him." He added, "His social media history is littered with divisive and hateful comments."
Martin's comments come in the wake of several controversial tweets by Pearl, including one in which he retweeted a post that read, "All lives matter."
Martin Not Alone in Condemning Pearl's Comments
ESPN's Jay Bilas Also Criticizes Pearl
Martin is not the only media personality to criticize Pearl's social media posts. ESPN's Jay Bilas also took to Twitter to express his disappointment.
"Bruce Pearl's recent tweets are deeply troubling," Bilas wrote. "As a head coach at a major university, he has a responsibility to be a role model for his players and the community."
Bruce Pearl's Political Views Raise Concerns
Pearl's Tweets Show Support for Republican Candidates
Pearl's social media posts have made his political views clear. He has frequently tweeted in support of Republican candidates and conservative causes.
In one tweet, Pearl wrote, "I'm proud to support Donald Trump for president."
Martin and Bilas Believe Pearl's Views Hurt Auburn's Reputation
Martin and Bilas believe that Pearl's political views are hurting Auburn's reputation.
Martin said, "Auburn University is a great school with a proud tradition. But Bruce Pearl's divisive comments are making it difficult for the university to attract top recruits."
Bilas added, "Auburn is a flagship university in the state of Alabama. Bruce Pearl's tweets are not representative of the values of the state or the university."
Auburn Responds to Criticism
University Issues Statement Defending Pearl
Auburn University has issued a statement defending Pearl. The statement said, "Auburn University is committed to diversity and inclusion."
The statement added, "We believe that Bruce Pearl is a good coach and a good person. We support his right to express his views, even if we do not agree with them."
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