Kevin Ware Blasts Louisville Sanctions 'It's a Joke'
2/20/2018 12:18 PM PST
EXCLUSIVE
Ex-Louisville basketball star Kevin Ware[1] says he doesn't understand why the NCAA is forcing the school to vacate their 2013 NCAA Championship ... saying the sanctions are a "joke."
Ware was a member of that championship team -- but suffered a catastrophic leg injury that sidelined him during the Elite Eight round of the tournament.
Still, Ware says he's incredibly proud of his team -- despite the NCAA vacating the title[2] and all of the team's wins due to the stripper sex party scandal involving players, recruits and team officials.
"It's a joke, honestly," Ware tells TMZ Sports ... "Just my personal opinion."
Ware says at the end of the day, Louisville still beat Duke, Wichita State and Michigan to win the tourney -- and the NCAA can't change that history.
As for his former coach Rick Pitino[3], Ware says he should definitely KEEP his championship tattoo[4] because he's a "gangsta!"
References^ Kevin Ware (www.tmz.com)^ vacating the title (www.tmz.com)^ Rick Pitino (www.tmz.com)^ championship tattoo (www.tmz.com)