Sebastien de la Cruz’s Triumphant Return to the NBA Finals

Jun 13, 2013
9:32 PM

What a difference two days make. On Tuesday night Sebastien de la Cruz was singing the national anthem at the NBA Finals in San Antonio, unaware that Twitter was getting ugly with racist tweets knocking the talent of a little boy, a boy who handled the hate with grace and dignity. Tonight, de la Cruz returned to the NBA Finals to sing the national anthem again, and it was triumphant.

Hey, when the Twitter profile of President Obama tweets you out before the game, you know the nation’s got your back:

obamatweet

As expected, de la Cruz had a following tonight and unlike Tuesday night, people went online to support him, just like San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro, who introduced him to the crowd, and just like San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Miam Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who both took the time to congratulate Sebastien after he finished singing.

Popovich even addressed the story earlier in the day when he said, “I would like to say that I would be shocked or surprised by the comments. But given the fact that there’s still a significant element of bigotry and racism in our nation, I’m not surprised. It still plagues us, obviously. And what I was surprised by was how proud these idiots are of their ignorance, by printing their names next to their comments.”

“He’s a class act,” Popovich added. “Way more mature than most his age. And as much as those comments by the idiots sadden you about your country, he makes you feel that the future could be very bright.”

It can very well be bright. You never know.

Classy indeed.