Steve Kerr, the story of suffering of the NBA star who cries out for action after the massacre in Texas

Steve Kerr’s voice has once again resonated around the world. The coach of the Golden State Warriors shocked the world with a powerful speech about the massacre that took place in a school in Uvalde, Texas this May 24. Visibly affected, and with tears in his eyes, he showed the most human side of him. One that the globe already knew, and that is that when it comes to social justice and criticism of the carrying of weapons, the eight-time NBA champion has always been present. His life story makes him never stay on the sidelines. He knows firsthand what it is to suffer from armed violence.

Any basketball question doesn’t matter. In the last 10 days, we’ve had elderly black men murdered in a supermarket in Buffalo, we’ve had Asian churchgoers murdered in Southern California, and now we have children murdered at school. When are we going to do something? Enough already. I’m tired of coming here and giving condolences to devastated families”, was the phrase with which the press conference after the game against the Mavs for the NBA West finals began. A statement that comes from the heart. From the genuine suffering he suffered in 1984 that forever changed Kerr’s life.

On January 18 of that year, he received the toughest phone call he could receive. While his family lived in his native Lebanon and he was in Arizona playing basketball for college, a friend called him at 3 in the morning. “I knew immediately that something had happened”, He counted in The Last Dance when remembering that moment.

The call was to tell Kerr, 19 at the time, that his father had been murdered. He happened at the American University of Beirut, an establishment of which he was rector and where two men ambushed him and shot him at close range. Within hours of the attack being carried out, the Hezbollah terrorist group claimed responsibility for it.

Kerr at the press conference. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The death of his father was a turning point for Steve. That dramatic episode accompanied him throughout his life and forged his character and personality. Basketball saved him, he says, dedicating a large part of his life to the orange ball. As a player he shared a squad with Michael Jordan and got three rings in a rowin addition to two others that he would get in the San Antonio Spurs, a city that is located 133 kilometers from where the slaughter of 18 children and three teachers was perpetuated.

During his time as a basketball player, Kerr stood out for being one of the best triplers in the league. In fact there are two milestones that highlight that place in a good way. First, the legendary triple that he scored in the last minute of game six of the NBA finals to give the Bulls the ring and also the fact that until today he is the player with the best percentage of triples (45.4%) scored in his career.

Later he would further enlarge his legend, being the coach who led the Golden State Warriors dynasty in the last decade. With those from San Francisco he won three rings, created a new style of play and raised his voice again.

During his time as a coach, Kerr has been a staunch opponent of the deliberate use of weapons in the United States, using his space as a public figure to debate and criticize the constant armed attacks that North America has suffered.

Remembered is his press conference after the shooting at the First Baptist Church in the small town of Sutherland Springs suffered on November 5, 2017. “It is a terrible thing and it has to be a matter of public safety. In 17 years we have improved many security issues, mainly in motoring issues, but nothing in arms control. Somehow our governors have to take action. There are many ways to help these people, but our politicians have to take the reins”He launched.

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Unfortunately in 2018, and after the attacks at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the issue would have to be discussed again by the Warriors strategist. “PIt seems that our politicians don’t care that children are shot to death day after day in their schools. They don’t care if people get shot at concerts or in theaters. It seems that it is still not enough to mobilize our leaders, the people who run this country. They have to do something, they have to let people vote. They cannot continue like this, due to pressure from those who pay for their campaigns. We have to find people who have the courage to fight for citizens and care about real security issues. To protect us from lunatics”, He commented in your much harsher tone at that time.

That is why this Tuesday exploded. It was the feeling of an endless loop. He has already seen himself in front of the microphones, he has already been annoyed because no one responds, he has already been hurt because the deaths continue to increase.

That is why he now had a direct comment to American politicians. “Fifty senators in Washington are going to take us hostage. Do you realize that 90 percent of Americans, regardless of their political party, want background checks, universal background checks? We are hostage to 50 senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote, despite what we Americans want. They won’t vote for him because they want to hold on to their own power. It’s pathetic. I’ve had enough”, he commented.

This is related to the approval of HR8, a law that seeks to regulate gun control in the United States, which was approved by Congress (with a Democratic majority) in 2021, but blocked by the Senate (with a Republican majority) a few weeks later. .

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Steve Kerr, the story of suffering of the NBA star who cries out for action after the massacre in Texas