Bob Costas not backing down from halftime gun comments

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Bob Costas isn’t backing down from his halftime comments on gun violence, but he wishes he had more time.

The NBC sportscaster gave interviews Tuesday to Dan Patrick and Lawrence O’Donnell about his Sunday night halftime commentary following Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher’s murder of his girlfriend and subsequent suicide. Both interviews were longer than the commentary itself.

Costas said domestic violence, football, the gun culture and possible substance abuse could have been factors in the tragedy. He said the availability of a gun wasn’t the only issue, but he didn’t have more time for a nuanced discussion Sunday.

Costas received some criticism for injecting politics into a sporting event.

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