Roy Williams issues statement after Haiti comment

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By ABC11

Friday, February 12, 2010

CHAPEL HILL "On February 1st at my weekly radio show I made a comment about a colleague telling me that Haiti was a catastrophe and we were just having a difficult season," Williams said. "I said that does put basketball in perspective. However, Tuesday, at a press conference, I referenced her comment again but I neglected to say that it puts basketball in perspective. In no way am I equating the tragedy in Haiti with basketball. I'm sorry that my statement at the press conference made it seem like I was comparing the two. The people of Haiti are suffering through unimaginably difficult times. I know very well that we are just playing a game."

Williams' original comment was made on February 1 during a radio show with host Woody Durham.

"The young lady that's our massage therapist, she had the best line...because that was... I saw her before the North Carolina State game, and she said, 'Coach, you may not believe this, or may not feel it all the time, but, what they have in Haiti is a catastrophe," he said. "What you have is a disappointment.' And, it's true. It's something...I said, well right now in my mind and my body, it feels like a catastrophe, but it is. What those people are having to go through is just unbelievable and it does put what we're going through in a different light, but it doesn't make it any easier though Woody, but it does make us understand what we're facing."