OT - Marcus Smart: appropriate penalty?

[MackNova]

1 game isn't enough. Remember a player on St. Joseph's (PA) got suspended 2 games for flipping off Nova fans last year. This has to get more than that, I would think...

[TheHall]

Oh I can think of a few things that guy could have said where it is perfectly excusable for Smart to have pushed him. One comes to mind starts with the letter N. Now, those of you who say "Nothing can justify this." is not living in reality. He's not a professional, not yet at least. He isn't being paid, so why should he be put up with being called racial slurs if that is indeed what happened. Thats Smart's story and I for one kind of believe him.

P.S. The fan in question looks like Mr. Belding's racist brother.

Also MS is a 19 year old and that dude look like he's in his 60's. Who should know better, who should have more self control? And anyone saying getting called racial slurs at games is normal for college athletes is still living in the pre-civil rights era.

[CPJays]

3 just for the sheer enjoyment of having his first game back being against Tech at home.

[Piratefan]

I am in no way excusing MS but, if the "fan" said an outrageous and offensive comment, the punishment should be attenuated to reflect same. There is absolutely no room for shouting highly offensive epithets as players, none.

[gosports1]

until the audio comes out on what the "fan" says we all should probably hold judgement. Obviously it was insulting. I do find it interesting that some people are so "brave" to confront someone in situations where they deem it safe. I wonder if this fan would have made whatever comment he did if he saw this kid on the street when it was just the two of them and nonone around to protect him

[bmorex]

3 just for the sheer enjoyment of having his first game back being against Tech at home.

It's three.

[Lavinwood]

Are you seriously just going to assume the white guy said a racial slur…err….because he's…white? That's about as racist as it gets. Show me any evidence that happened. Bottom line is that MS was obviously wrong and should be suspended for the rest of the regular season to prove a point. I can't believe some people are defending an OSU basketball player for shoving a fan.

[sciencejay]

Easy Lavinwood. It was reported a few minutes after the game that a reporter a few feet away from Smart heard him tell an assistant coach on the way into the locker room that the fan used the "N" word. That's where the racist speculation came from. As of yet, there has been no confirmation of Smart's assessment, and no public reiteration from OSU, the BigXII or the NCAA (or Texas Tech for that matter) that the fan used such language.

We may never know what the fan said, but I agree with earlier posters that if (and only IF) the guy made racist comments to a 19 year old in the heat of a game, that should have been considered prior to coming up with a penalty.

I hope the 'fan' gets banned for the rest of the season.

[NJRedman]

Are you seriously just going to assume the white guy said a racial slur…err….because he's…white? That's about as racist as it gets. Show me any evidence that happened. Bottom line is that MS was obviously wrong and should be suspended for the rest of the regular season to prove a point. I can't believe some people are defending an OSU basketball player for shoving a fan.

How about you read MS's lips when he's walking away? "You know what you called me, you know you called me a n-----!"

Why would he just freak out on this guy for no reason what-so-ever?

[NJRedman]

Easy Lavinwood. It was reported a few minutes after the game that a reporter a few feet away from Smart heard him tell an assistant coach on the way into the locker room that the fan used the "N" word. That's where the racist speculation came from. As of yet, there has been no confirmation of Smart's assessment, and no public reiteration from OSU, the BigXII or the NCAA (or Texas Tech for that matter) that the fan used such language.

We may never know what the fan said, but I agree with earlier posters that if (and only IF) the guy made racist comments to a 19 year old in the heat of a game, that should have been considered prior to coming up with a penalty.

I hope the 'fan' gets banned for the rest of the season.

Actually Texas Tech apologized for what the fan said and the fan has agreed to not come to any more games for the rest of the season.