Jim Boeheim Goes Off On Gun Control

Jim Boeheim could have used the post-game presser after winning his 900th game as head coach of the Syracuse Orange to speak in platitudes. He could have used to talk in coach-speak. He could have used it to talk solely about basketball.

But we were reminded very clearly last night that Jim Boeheim is one of the few, brave men in American sports with the balls to say whatever he wants, when he wants. And regardless of where you stand on the gun control debate, you have to respect him for that.

Boeheim closed his post-game remarks by touching on the most unlikely of basketball press conference topics....gun control:

If we in this country, as Americans, can not get the people that represent us to do something about firearms we are a sad, sad society.

I'm not talking about rifles and things. That is fine.

If one person in this world, NRA president, anybody can tell me why we need assault weapons with 30 shots in the thing...if one person in the world...this is our fault.

This is my fault and your fault and your fault...all your faults. If we don't get out and do something about this...

I saw one guy, a representative that I was very proud of, somebody in his state came out and said [paraphrasing, of course], "We need more guns. We don't need less. We need to give teachers guns."

So they can shoot people, yeah, that is really good thinking to do that.

If we can't get this thing done. You know, I'll go with the mayor of New York City, if we can't get this thing done I don't know what kind of country we have.

This is about us.

This isn't about the President or those other people down there. We need to make them understand. Somehow, this needs to get figured out. Real quick. Not six months from now.

Two things...

You know where I stand on the issue. So as far as I'm concerned, bravo sir.

I'd like to see Pat Forde or Gregg Doyel write a column now about how out of touch Jim Boeheim is or how he "doesn't get it." As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a coach in America who "gets it" more than Jim.

Update: Boeheim followed up on his comments Tuesday morning on the Mike & Mike Show.