Ex-CNN contributor implores recruits to avoid Bruce Pearl's Auburn basketball program
Former CNN contributor Roland Martin is imploring recruits not to sign with Bruce Pearl's Auburn basketball program after the Tigers head coach made inflammatory remarks about democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
"To all Black ballplayers and their parents considering (Auburn men's basketball), this is the trash Bruce Pearl tweets," Martin tweeted. "There are many other SEC schools to consider. Choose accordingly."
A very important note about Martin: he leaked CNN town hall questions to former DNC Chair Donna Brazile to help out then-democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. This is purely political, but Martin took cheap shots below the belt making it personal and implying abhorrent things about Pearl.
USA Today's Dan Wolken took a less aggressive stance but still framed Pearl sharing his political opinion as a negative result of NIL.
"Serious question: Has NIL changed the game to such an extent that a college coach can say stuff like this on social media and not fear any negative recruiting impact in households where the VP is likely quite popular?" Wolken asked.
He later expressed that Pearl's political activism was not the same as Steve Kerr's.
"I guess you’ve missed the point. Steve Kerr doesn’t have to convince families to send their teenage kids to a college campus for personal and professional development in a highly competitive recruiting environment," Wolken responded to a fan who pointed out that if Kerr is allowed to share his political beliefs, then so can Pearl.
Bruce Pearl to be a key political figure in sports during election season
Pearl isn't going to relent sharing his opinions at any point. Certainly, leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Pearl is going to continue to be a notable figure from the sports world chiming in on any and every major political issue.
Pearl has been notable for his pro-Israel stances and has praised Donald Trump repeatedly over the years; calling the president courageous after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
Those aren't popular stances in the sports world's biggest media companies. That's not going to stop Pearl from sharing them, though.