Marcus Smart, who plays basketball for Oklahoma State, has been suspended by the Big 12 for pushing a Texas Tech fan.
Smart will sit out a total of three games for the incident, which occurred in the final seconds of the game between his Oklahoma State squad and their Texas Tech opponents, according to Sporting News. It’s believed that the fan, Jeff Orr, made a remark directed at Smart that set the athlete off. His teammates rushed over to pull him away from the fan before the confrontation could go further.
The next three games coming up for Oklahoma State are against Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor, which Smart will be forced to miss. He’ll be able to suit back up for his team’s Feb. 22 game against Texas Tech. Throughout the duration of his game suspension, Smart will be permitted to practice with his team.
Orr has also suffered consequnces for his part of the scuffle, and won’t be seen at any Texas Tech games for the rest of the 2013-2014 season, reported CBS Sports. “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,” Orr said in a statement. “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.”
Although Orr has taken part of the blame, Smart has maintained that he is the only person at fault for the pushing incident. “This is not how I conduct myself. This is not how the program is run. This is not how I was raised. I let my emotions get the best of me,” Smart said in a press conference. “It’s something I’ll have to learn from, a lesson I’ll have to learn from. The consequences that are coming with it — I’m taking full responsibility. No fingers pointing — this is all upon me.”
Smart, who is eligible for the NBA draft this year, is thought to be one of the best players in the country, who will get picked up early by a pro team.
– Chelsea Regan
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