Gregg Popovich reps Beto O’Rourke in Texas election, calls Ted Cruz “scary”

Gregg Popovich is showing support for Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke in his upcoming election battle against incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

#Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich makes his support known ahead of election day…wearing a Beto cap today at practice (📹@markmendez) #ElectionDay #NBA pic.twitter.com/n5rYMmSLZM

— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) November 2, 2018

Popovich – like LeBron James before him – wore a Beto hat during Spurs practice this week. The San Antonio Spurs coach, who’s never been shy about discussing his political opinions, explained his reasoning with media, saying Cruz was “scary” and he thinks Beto is “what an American is supposed to be.”

“To do what Mr. Cruz has done to try to get elected is very scary,” Popovich told reporters (H/T Uproxx) on Saturday. “That’s about self. That’s not about the rest of us. And Beto is the exact opposite of that, and that’s why I think he is great.”

“You get so tired of all the lies and the divisiveness, and the fearmongering and the race-baiting. It just diminishes all of us,” Popovich said. “It makes all of us feel strange, and when I think of Beto, or I listen to what he says, I feel like what I thought an American is supposed to be. He’s classy. He’s intelligent. He’s civil.

The race between O’Rourke and Cruz has been the closest its ever been in what’s largely been a red state in terms of voting. According to the Associated Press, Texas smashed election records in turnout with more than 4.8 million people voting early – more than the total turnout for midterms in 2014.

Popovich is pulling for Beto. Wearing a hat and discussing his eloquent opinion is great and something I wish more sports figures weren’t afraid of doing.

[Uproxx]