Pat Kelsey focuses on Newtown tragedy in post-game presser
Winthrop’s men basketball coach Pat Kelsey rocked the sports nation tonight in a press conference following Winthrop’s loss at Ohio State University.
Screenshot taken from video courtesy of Rivals.com
The Eagles fell to the nationally ranked Buckeyes 65-55 but Kelsey used the microphone in the post-game press conference to offer up powerful charges in response to a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. which left 20 children and six administrators dead.
The following is a transcript from Kelsey’s post-game speech:
“The last thing I wanna say is I’m really, really lucky, ’cause I’m gonna get on an eight-hour bus ride, and I’m gonna arrive in Rock Hill, S.C., and I’m gonna walk into my house, and I’m gonna walk upstairs, and I’m gonna walk into two pink rooms, OK, with a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old la
ying in that pink room, with a bunch of teddy bears laying in that room.
“And I’m gonna give them the biggest hug and the biggest kiss I’ve ever given them. And there’s 20 families in Newtown, Conn., that are walking into a pink room with a bunch of teddy bears with nobody laying in those beds. And it’s tragic.
“And I don’t know what needs to be done. I’m not smart enough to know what needs to be done, OK? I know this country’s got issues. Is it a gun issue? Is it a mental illness issue? Or is it a society that has lost the fact, the understanding, that decent human values are important?
“And our leaders – I didn’t vote for President Obama. But you know what? He’s my president now. He’s my leader. I need him to step up. Mr. Boehner, the Speaker of the House, he’s a Xavi
er guy, he’s a Cincinnati guy, OK, he needs to step up.
“Parents, teachers, rabbis, priests, coaches, everybody needs to step up. This has to be a time for change. And I know this microphone’s powerful right now, because we’re playing the fourth-best team in the country. I’m not going to have a microphone like this the rest of the year, maybe the rest of my life.
“And I’m going to be an agent of change with the 13 young men I get to coach every day an
Photo by Jacob Hallex– hallexj@mytjnow.com
d the two little girls that I get to raise. But hopefully things start changing, because it’s really, really disappointing.
“I’m proud to grow up American. I’m proud to say I’m part of the greatest country ever. And that’s got to stay that way. And it’ll stay that way if we change. But we gotta change.”
Kelsey encouraged all those listening to stand up for a change. “I know this microphone’s powerful right now because we’re playing the fourth-best team in the country,” Kelsey said. “I’m not going to have a microphone like this the rest of the year, maybe the rest of my life.”Kelsey did not use the press conference to blame any particular political party but instead admonished President Obama as well as House Speaker John Boehner to “step up.”
The Winthrop Eagles will be back in action against Auburn on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m.
Watch the full video of Kelsey’s remarks here courtesy of rivals.com.
Managing editor for The Johnsonian.
I find it to be very strange that the very people who feel a need or a concern to provide comment, to speak out to render words as to what took place on last week in the shooting of those in Connecticut are people those who have the lease authority on the root of the problem, However not taking away substance and or context of what was said by this coach, it’s truth and without question need to be said, but the source of the matter the void the questions which seemingly are beyond reasoning of why or the motive behind this tragedy, that being of a more far reaching presence, to have done this it would be safe to say not of any normal mentality. But someone who was not in control of their God given senses, however not in their right mind, yet we would sort it to be one who is considered crazy (an understatement ) in a society where such occurrences are becoming common place, it seems that to label someone to be crazy has and is being taken lightly. Yet we continue in attempt to provide explanation and understanding in comparison of these tragic events, but I assure that the one compelling characteristic that is being over looked is that these individuals all have lost their way or never found it at all, and became persuaded by evil, at all times 24/7 there is a battle being fought, good against evil and without the proper tools (The Word), support (The Lord) ones fate of losing this battle is but a reality which shall be faced. But I applaud and appreciate that this man this coach stood up and took a stance and spoke out against this evil which has taken resident in World, Just a thought (What men, all across this Nation were to take a similar stances or better yet obtain what they need to do battle, cause we are losing the fight at hand ) but where I find it to be very confusing is the absence of the Spiritual Leaders of this Country, where are their voices, why aren’t we hearing from them, when many have been given a platform to speak out to take stance to render a word, A platform which has been established only as reason of their calling by the Lord, All they are and will be is contributed to Him, nothing are they without Him, However I acknowledge that my Father works in mysterious ways but I would find it hard to accept that He has not spoken a word unto the Shepard’s of His people a Word for this land regarding the evil that is going To and Fro in the Earth without hindrance when such a battle waged required their upmost attention.