Former CNN commentator Ronald Martin took a shot at Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl, urging recruits not to join his program after he made remarks about Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Pearl shared his political opinions this election year, as he has in the past. This time, Pearl quoted a post by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that said Harris is “so extreme that she wants to kick you off the health insurance you get through your job.”
Pearl responded by calling Harris a “socialist.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers practices before the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Spokane, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“Thank you for pointing that out, Senator Cotton. However, I suspect she is neither changing nor hiding many of her socialist, woke, progressive beliefs in order to get elected! We will not be fooled again!”
That post prompted Martin to tweet his own request to new recruits not to join the Tigers’ head coach because of his public views – particularly toward black players.
AUBURN BASKETBALL COACH PRAISES TRUMP’S ‘COURAGE’ AFTER MURDER ATTEMPT: ‘HE WOULD TAKE A BULLET FOR US’
“To all black baseball players and their parents considering (Auburn basketball): This is the garbage Bruce Pearl tweets,” Martin said in a quote-tweet of Pearl’s message to Cotton. “There are plenty of other SEC schools to consider. Choose accordingly.”
USA Today columnist Dan Wolken also questioned Pearl’s views in a tweet of his own.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl gives instructions to his team during their 73-66 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the semifinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament on March 16, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“Serious question: Has NIL changed the rules of the game so much that a college coach can say something like that on social media without fearing negative recruiting repercussions in households where the vice president is likely quite popular?”
A fan on Wolken’s feed mentioned Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he publicly expressed his support for Harris, saying he was allowed to express his political views just like Pearl.
“I guess you missed the point,” Wolken responded to X. “Steve Kerr doesn’t need to convince families to send their teenagers to a college campus so they can develop personally and professionally in a highly competitive recruiting environment.”
Pearl has also expressed very pro-Israel views in the current war between Israel and Hamas and has praised Donald Trump over the years, recently calling the former president brave for surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last month.
Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts during the Yale Bulldogs game in the first round of the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Spokane, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Pearl is entering his 11th season as coach of the Tigers and his 21st year as coach overall. Auburn won the SEC Tournament last season but lost to Yale in the NCAA Tournament.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
