KNIGHTSTOWN, Ind. -- In a presidential election season with no shortage of "Did he just say that?" moments, Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had one Tuesday night that is a little more close to home for Hoosiers.
Cruz held a rally Tuesday night in Knightstown, Indiana, in the very gym where the 1986 classic movie "Hoosiers" was filmed.
During his speech, Cruz tried to evoke some of that "Hoosiers" pride by quoting a scene from the movie.
In the movie, when the team made it to the state championship, many players were starstruck by the size of the gym they'd be playing in. Their coach, played by Gene Hackman, measures the court to prove a point that no matter how much bigger the gym may be, the court is still the same size as the one back home.
Tuesday night, Cruz said:
"As you all know, we're here on the Hickory basketball court. ... The amazing thing is, that basketball ring here in Indiana is the same height as it is in New York City and every other city in this country. And there is nothing that Hoosiers cannot do."
No, Ted. It's not a ring. It's a hoop or a goal.
As it always is, the internet was calm and understanding in Cruz's mistake. No, not really.
Ted Cruz on ESPN:
The Basketball Ring
Football Endzone Y
The Hockey Rectangle Mesh
The Soccer Thing That is Like the Hockey Rectangle Mesh— Fake Dispatch (@Fake_Dispatch) April 27, 2016
.@tedcruz is bound to lose Indiana now that he called a basketball hoop a "basketball ring." pic.twitter.com/OGh3UnaCEc
— Bryan Kubel (@bkubel) April 27, 2016
Hey @tedcruz, your "basketball ring" comment just lost you Indiana. Next you'll probably call the Indianapolis Motor Speedway a circle.
— Andrew's Head (@AndrewLucksHead) April 27, 2016
When ted cruz called a hoop a "basketball ring" pic.twitter.com/RWfaDYwJoI
— James Custer (@JamesCuster_II) April 27, 2016
When you hear Ted Cruz call a basketball goal a "basketball ring" pic.twitter.com/Ycrru1Za5z
— Pro Hoops History (@ProHoopsHistory) April 27, 2016
According to the Associated Press, Cruz responded to the backlash by saying, "I think my campaign team, after I messed up the reference to `Hoosiers,' I think they wanted me to run laps."
But which is worse? Cruz's ring incident from Tuesday? Or Hillary Clinton calling Indiana "Indianoplace" in an email?
PREVIOUS | Hillary Clinton email: "Are you still in basketball-crazed Indianoplace?"
