By: JANAY HUNT
Marcus Smart, a sophomore basketball player from Oklahoma State is suspended after shoving a Texas Tech fan near the closing seconds of the game. Smart apologized to the fan, his family and team for his actions.
Texas Tech did a thorough investigation of the incident. Jeff Orr apparently made a comment that upset Smart, he shoved Orr and teammates quickly pulled Smart away. Orr denied making a racial slur. Orr made an apology statement towards Smart, Oklahoma State, the Tech coach and Texas Tech Men’s Basketball program. Orr also states “(He) regrets calling Smart a ‘piece of crap’ but I did not us a racial slur of any kind.”
I do applaud the Big 12 for taking such a swift action against Smart’s action towards a spectator. I think it was just a heat if the moment for both sides in this altercation. Smart was upset about and he could have misheard Orr’s comment as something as a racial slur. Orr was pumped up and excited about watching his team about to win a game and yelled a comment not thinking any Oklahoma State player would hear it.
I mean let’s be honest, how many times have an athlete taken responsibility for losing their cool? At least then there is a little less consequence with his actions there than on the court during a game.
