Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said it is "time for us to have thoughtful action" toward social injustice, according to a Q&A with Alan Blinder of the N.Y. TIMES. Warren said people must "engage in some very painful conversations for us to take action in a manner that will save our country, save the human race and build a better future." Below are excerpts from the Q&A, some of which has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: What are your days like right now?
Warren: I've been averaging 80 to 85 conference calls every week. I think the shortest day we've had has been 12 hours. ... But this has taught me to focus on the simple pleasures. I've also been spending a lot of time on my prayer life. I actually distributed 'Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge' to my family and whoever on our staff wanted it.
Q: How have you been following sports?
Warren: I watched a couple of the Masters reruns. Other than that, I haven't watched any sports rewinds.
Q: How have you coped with being cooped up?
Warren: I was able to finish my book called 'Build Your Own Pool.' It's about my story.
Q: What do you hope is the same -- and what should be different -- in sports once the pandemic ebbs?
Warren: What I hope is different is the fact that we recognize how much we love live sports. I think there was a period there where people forgot how much we love live sports, whether in person or on television. I hope that we can create meaningful opportunities to thank our fans. ... What do I hope is different? Probably fan behavior. I hope people come out of this kinder and gentler, and that we appreciate each other more (N.Y. TIMES, 6/7).
