Marcus Smart shoves fan

[catcherinthewry]

That guy (Orr) is a total bag. And only in Lubbock would a guy like that be celebrated. What a cesspool that school and city is.

I totally agree with all three statements.

[betts]

Behind the bench? The fan was Behind the goal. This happened in less than 5 seconds.

I'm an OU fan. Did not watch the game. Behind the goal meant he may have been yelling during FTs. I'm not excusing Smart's behavior. But what's sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. If that man was rude and abusive he doesn't need to be at games. Were I a university president I wouldn't care if that meant we lost 1% of our ticket sales. We are trying to teach our young men and women how to behave like adults. So, adults who do not behave like adults should not be treated as if they've done nothing.

[NWOKCGuy]

You guys are acting like Tech is the only place where fans heckle players. You seriously think Smart hasn't heard 10x worse than whatever this guy said from students during Bedlam? This happens everywhere, in every classification, from junior high to NBA. Are we seriously saying there is ever an excuse for a player to go into the stands? Smart is a high profile athlete and kids everywhere are going to be watching to see what his punishment is.

[betts]

Is anyone saying he shouldn't be punished? I think he should. But, I think it's time we tell fans heckling, especially if we find out it was racial in nature, is not to be tolerated either. I'm tired of grown men acting like ten year olds over sports. Pull that guy's season ticket, IMO. What he did was not OK. It's never OK, but less OK in college sports and below.

[bradh]

You guys are acting like Tech is the only place where fans heckle players. You seriously think Smart hasn't heard 10x worse than whatever this guy said from students during Bedlam? This happens everywhere, in every classification, from junior high to NBA. Are we seriously saying there is ever an excuse for a player to go into the stands? Smart is a high profile athlete and kids everywhere are going to be watching to see what his punishment is.

Not an excuse but we're talking about Lubbock

[ou48A]

This would be the perfect opportunity for the OSU president Burns Hargis to step up and began the process of repairing the very serious damage that OSU athletics has caused to his schools reputation in recent months.

Even before the Big 12 takes action Mr Hargis should permanently suspend Smart from all athletic competition at OSU and state that OSU will not tolerate the type of behavior that Smart displayed at our university.

However my confidence in OSU officials taking such action is extremely low!

[ou48A]

Not an excuse but we're talking about Lubbock

We are also talking about the crap coming out of OSU once again... There is a pattern here with OSU in case you haven't noticed.....
This fits right in with some of the out of control stuff that SI wrote about.

[NWOKCGuy]

Is anyone saying he shouldn't be punished? I think he should. But, I think it's time we tell fans heckling, especially if we find out it was racial in nature, is not to be tolerated either. I'm tired of grown men acting like ten year olds over sports. Pull that guy's season ticket, IMO. What he did was not OK. It's never OK, but less OK in college sports and below.

I guess you're right - after reading the thread again its not as pro-Smart as the comments on the ESPN articles and such I was reading before this. I guess that put me in a mood before my post.

[kevinpate]

A suspension works. Game or three is adequate. Gets the point across one does not go after a spectator (not even the heckler ones, and irrespective of the content of the heckle.) Doesn't destroy the ability to grow from a dumb mistake.

Bottom line for coaches to teach all athletes, at all ages: (a) Hecklers exist and (b) There is no response to a heckler, in any measure, that does not reward the heckler, so tune them out. And then enforce the lesson appropriately so it sinks in.

But ban forever? Absurd idea and completely out of proportion to the (admittedly stupid) conduct of the player.

[MustangGT]

Completely unacceptable. Doesn't matter what the fan said. You CANNOT shove a fan. Hopefully a multi game suspension is coming.


Marcus Smart Pushes Texas Tech Fan - YouTube

Agreed.

[blangtang]

press conference coming at 5 PM...

[Laramie]

No excuse for what Marcus Smart did; he was wrong and should be disciplined--definitely not to the point of overkill. Like many schools throughout the country, there are certain individual fans who are known for their disrespect and antics toward opposing team players.

It is true that this fan has a history of heckling players from the opposing team?

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[AP]

Kevin Durant said today that he doesn't think he would have acted any differently in that situation.

[Stew]

I don't know what the fan said and frankly it's irrelevant. What Smart did is illegal and one must ask why aren't assault charges being filed.

OSU should kick Smart off the team because he's not who they are nor who they want to be.

[BoulderSooner]

5 games at least

[AP]

I don't know what the fan said and frankly it's irrelevant. What Smart did is illegal and one must ask why aren't assault charges being filed.

OSU should kick Smart off the team because he's not who they are nor who they want to be.

Assault charges for pushing someone? That's overdoing it, don't ya think?

[venture]

It is true that this fan has a history of heckling players from the opposing team?

Go to the first page of this thread, post #14...I posted a video of him during a game against A&M (it is towards the end) = http://www.okctalk.com/sports/36701-...tml#post745118

[venture]

From KJRH... Who is the fan Marcus Smart shoved? Jeff Orr, Texas Tech Red Raiders super fan - Story

[SoonerDave]

From KJRH... Who is the fan Marcus Smart shoved? Jeff Orr, Texas Tech Red Raiders super fan - Story

This is a debacle for everyone involved. Surely no one at Tech is proud they've lionized this guy. Surely no one at OSU is proud of what Smart did. If what the fan did was the "last straw" in an incredibly disappointing season for OSU, then you have to go back to the coach to figure out why he (apparently?) lost the team, lost their discipline, lost...about everything?

Just a mess. No winners in this.

At all.

[AP]

Smart suspended 3 games.

[bradh]

Surely no one at Tech is proud they've lionized this guy.

You're giving Tech people too much credit.

[GoOKC1991]

Mr. Orr says he called Marcus "a piece of crap". Listen closely to this video, he clearly did. No racial slurs.

Fan-Player Incident: TTU vs. OSU Basketball - YouTube

[Stan Silliman]

You're knocking Lubbock and TT as if it's an anomaly. Here's a video from my collection of a REAL fight, players against players, players slugging fans, players slugging cops in, of all places - DUKE - started by the basketball coach, Larry Brown, when he was a NC Tarheel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0RroAH4vwU

[OKCretro]

So from the video seems like Smart is the liar, no racial slur used.

[NWOKCGuy]

This is from Texas Tech:

In conjunction with a review of the actions of Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart by the Big 12 Conference, Texas Tech has completed its own thorough investigation regarding the incident at last night's basketball game involving Red Raider fan Jeff Orr. Texas Tech interviewed Mr. Orr along with numerous fans, photographers and arena personnel that were seated in the area surrounding him. Mr. Orr vehemently denied the accusation that he used a racial slur and no one in the vicinity of Mr. Orr heard such a slur.

Mr. Orr has admitted to directing an inappropriate phrase toward Marcus Smart. Texas Tech has been able to verify that statement independently through video provided by Texas Tech Sports Broadcasting. At no point on the film can a racial slur be heard.

Texas Tech is committed to sportsmanship and expects fans to abide by the rules set forth by the Big 12 Conference and the university. Comments such as those used by Mr. Orr are unacceptable and not condoned by Texas Tech University.

As a result of this incident, Mr. Orr has voluntarily agreed to not attend a Texas Tech home or away basketball game for the remainder of the season.

Jeff Orr Statement

"I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies to Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, Tubby Smith and the Texas Tech Men's Basketball program. My actions last night were inappropriate and do not reflect myself or Texas Tech - a university I love dearly. I regret calling Mr. Smart a "piece of crap" but I want to make it known that I did not use a racial slur of any kind. Additionally, I would like to offer my apologies to Texas Tech fans that have been embarrassed by the attention this incident has created."

Statement Regarding Incident At Texas Tech-Oklahoma State Men's Basketball Game - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site