Media networks shouldn't hire Steve Kerr or Doc Rivers after false claims about ICE | Bobby Burack

Now, for some facts.

A week before Kerr's comments, Operation Metro Surge released records showing federal agents had arrested multiple violent offenders, including convicted murderers and sex offenders. That alone undercuts Kerr's assertion.

Kerr also pointed to a case in Minneapolis involving a 5-year-old. According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, agents were trying to arrest the child's father, who allegedly fled on foot and left the boy alone in a running vehicle in sub-freezing temperatures. DHS said agents attempted to place the child with his mother.

They were not "taking" the child.

Rivers' claims were even more incendiary. He accused ICE agents of "murdering" people. Murder is a legal term. He appeared to be referring to the Jan. 9 shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota. Based on available evidence, the ICE agent involved has been described by federal officials as acting in self-defense, citing that Good drove her vehicle directly toward the agent.

OutKick sent two reporters to ask Kerr and Rivers about their statements, as the rest of the press nodded along and printed their false claims.

To his credit, Kerr acknowledged his mistake.

"Being in Minneapolis for those four days was incredibly emotional and powerful. It was a very difficult time for all of us. At the end of those four days, it was a pretty emotional time. I misspoke, and I apologize for the misinformation," he said.

However, Rivers did not walk anything back. He told OutKick he stands by his comments.

"I don't change what I said at all," Rivers said. "We all should be worried. Tom Homan, who was the head of DHS, has said they're targeting people by their color and if they can speak the language. If you're Brown, you're nervous because I don't see anybody going into the Ukrainian villages and arresting anybody. All we can go by is what we see."

Apparently, the league is comfortable with Rivers spreading misinformation. But potential suitors in the media networks should not be.

It would be irresponsible for a network like ESPN, Amazon Prime or NBC to hire Rivers, who retired this month, after seeing his willingness to lie about serious issues and then double down when confronted with the facts.

Networks could also expose themselves to legal risk, given how loosely and inaccurately Rivers uses the term "murder."

Of course, that does not mean networks won't look to hire both or one of the coaches. Sports media has a history of decisions that undercut credibility, and both men bring name recognition that executives value.

Still, the comments Kerr or Rivers made about ICE were incendiary and factually challenged. Any network that would hire them afterward warrants serious scrutiny.