Marcus Smart

[WV Cowboy]

That was not Orr that leaned in close to Smart with the game guide or something, .. that was a lady beside Orr.

I am seeing the same video that you are, .. I stand by my opinion.

But no matter whether he was 5 ft from him, 4ft or closer, .. no matter if he took two steps or one, .. what he did is unacceptable.
It can never be ok for a player to go into the stands and shove somebody.

In the video that you sent me, the guys in the studio said, "we just saw something that we may never have seen before."

That sums up the severity of his actions.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Who might get sued is a merry go round of pointlessness.
Smart could easily sue for lost wages based upon falling draft stock.
Literally you can sue folks for almost anything.

He could try to sue but I know of no such precedents and I doubt he would have any chance of winning such a suit.

Tech has plenty of attorneys and plenty of insurance.
Same as OSU.
Scholarships are fairly pointless for a future top 10 NBA draft pick that has worth 3 mil a year plus today but has no money in his pocket.
Smart will make OSU 1000x more money than the total cost of his scholarship.

Not if he doesn't learn to control his temper. Besides, in todays NCAA, you don't get paid and thats how it works. Until that changes, if it changes, all the rest is pointless discussion.

Stand behind every word of my above post and I have been a very rowdy tortilla throwing Tech fan for 20 years.

If you want to prevent fan/player actions you work both ends.
Fans are not stupid. They realize they have lines not to cross.
And they realize that players in the stands can almost always throttle them at will if they so desire.

A 50 year old guy screaming in a 19 year old kids ear for no other reason than he went to an opposing school deserves in the real world to be punched in his face.
That's just reality.
On the high school or lower levels that fan would immediate expulsion and possibly face jail time for harassment.

Smart's poor handling of it aside Orr is a tool.
And his 'voluntary' self-suspension is likely just a compromise so the school doesn't openly punish him.

Smart is going to face large and lasting punishment for his actions here but he's likely the only one and that is a shame.

That's reality.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Smart does not get three game suspension for what JTerrell is trying to pass off as reality.

One a side note...WV basketball had their dealings with smart acting a fool during their game.

However WVU but #11 Iowa State and during game one of the Iowa State players kicks a WVU player but it does not get called.

Later a WVU player punches a Iowa State player and gets ejected (rightfully so IMO).

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/94...p4?versionId=z.sovRi5IQ0az7GF0zjQNUvZA0WPkx0a
Crazy stuff going on in Big 12 Basketball this year.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Seeing the link that BP just posted, from that angle, .. it looks like Harris is going for the block. And if the ISU player takes the ball straight to the hole as it looked like he would, it would have been a block. But when the ISU player takes the ball down and to the right, Harris' hand comes down right on the guys head.

None the less, .. it was an awful foul and he got what he deserved.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Seeing the link that BP just posted, from that angle, .. it looks like Harris is going for the block. And if the ISU player takes the ball straight to the hole as it looked like he would, it would have been a block. But when the ISU player takes the ball down and to the right, Harris' hand comes down right on the guys head.

None the less, .. it was an awful foul and he got what he deserved.

That was not a blocking attempt by the WVU player. That was flagrant with a closed fist.

 

[jterrell]

He could try to sue but I know of no such precedents and I doubt he would have any chance of winning such a suit.

Not if he doesn't learn to control his temper. Besides, in todays NCAA, you don't get paid and thats how it works. Until that changes, if it changes, all the rest is pointless discussion.

That's reality.

Again lawsuit talk is just fluff that means nothing.
Too broad and vague to have any real meaning.

Smart has ALREADY EARNED OSU 1000X the cost of his scholarship.
Whether he ever earns a cent he's made them very real money and in large sums.

This incident will make ESPN/Big 12 and associated teams even more money when smart plays Tech again in a couple weeks or if they face them in a tourney.
The last time Tech has ANY national basketball attention it was for BCG beating up players and forcing a mutiny that resulted in his firing.

Orr gets on TV and everyone involved BUT Smart makes money....
Again suspension warranted and almost mandatory but also more than enough punishment.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Again lawsuit talk is just fluff that means nothing.
Too broad and vague to have any real meaning.

I would say this is true in certain situations but not in the case of a player assaulting a fan or a player initiating a larger altercation in which a fan is injured. In that situation, it would not be fluff IMO. The fan would win and the University would pay.

Smart has ALREADY EARNED OSU 1000X the cost of his scholarship.
Whether he ever earns a cent he's made them very real money and in large sums.

Perhaps but that's the agreement all players sign up for. Smart is not playing for nothing. He is getting something out of it. Now, if he chooses not to take advantage, that's a different thing but Smart is getting something out of it and it's not trivial if taken advantage of. If Smart does not make it in the NBA, a very real possibility, then Smart has the education and all of the earnings that come from that education, if he's taken advantage of that. That, to me, is not trivial.

This incident will make ESPN/Big 12 and associated teams even more money when smart plays Tech again in a couple weeks or if they face them in a tourney.
The last time Tech has ANY national basketball attention it was for BCG beating up players and forcing a mutiny that resulted in his firing.

Orr gets on TV and everyone involved BUT Smart makes money....
Again suspension warranted and almost mandatory but also more than enough punishment.

Well, Smart didn't have to play for OSU. He could have tried to go straight to the NBA. Doubtful he would have made it but that's why you sign to play for a University. Because of that opportunity, he has had a chance to show the NBA what he can do and OSU has helped develop his skills. Those are certainly valuable advantages he has received from the University. Yeah, the school will make money but so will Smart if he is SMART. To me, its equitable.

Smart deserves every bit of those 3 games and probably more with his history but, it's 3 games and I am fine with that.

 

[WV Cowboy]

That was not a blocking attempt by the WVU player. That was flagrant with a closed fist.

Right, not arguing that, .. but I do think that as the play began, Harris had blocking the shot in mind. I stop and started the video and sort of watched it in slow motion.

As it played out, he could have stopped short of clubbing the guy, and did not. Flagrant foul.

Had he gotten any ball at all, there would probably not have been a flagrant foul called.

But the ISU player took the ball down and to the right, so his hand/fist hit all head.

Scary, glad nobody got hurt.

 

[burmafrd]

notice how all of you experts ignore the fact that a 50 year old fan who should have been ejected was not. Blame the kid. Not the adult. Considering who it is here in this thread not a surprise.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

notice how all of you experts ignore the fact that a 50 year old fan who should have been ejected was not. Blame the kid. Not the adult. Considering who it is here in this thread not a surprise.

Notice how you pick and choose what you want to read? I, and many others, have already stated that the man was way out of line. That's not even debatable but yet, you ignore that in an attempt to do what? Only you know.


The man was way over the line but you are never going to be able to effect fan behavior in situations like this with any degree of success because sports encourage fan participation and the idea that fans are somehow part of the game. The whole, "Fan Experience" marketing strategy is based on this kind of sales approach. It's how they get people to spend stupid amounts of money for things like Basketball games. It's how they get boosters to donate money. This is not going away anytime soon and it's not going to be curbed either because it's money that is involved.

 

[WV Cowboy]

notice how all of you experts ignore the fact that a 50 year old fan who should have been ejected was not. Blame the kid. Not the adult. Considering who it is here in this thread not a surprise.

I think it goes without saying that the adult was out of line, .. but it could have been anyone in the stands. A woman was affected by this too as she was pushed by Orr.

Despite the older guy being a jerk, (which he was, and from the sounds of it has been before) .. no college athlete can ever be allowed to go into the stands and shove fans.

None. Period. Ever.

Smart is going to have other instances where are people may be closer to him or even doing something more than yelling, .. he needs to learn that he has to control himself.

 

[Nirvana]

Thing that bothers me the most is how that guy's life would have been ruined if there was no audio of what happened. He did not use any racial slurs, but Smart said that he did at the time, and social media ran HARD with that narrative. He also looked out of control for a long time.

 

[jterrell]

My take on this is definitely effected by being a coach.

I hate fans. Fans are largely useless stupid creatures, lol.
Understand I coach for free and my players paid in Nike elite socks or likewise from their parents.
So fans make tourney organizers and venues money but mostly just annoy me.

I sympathize with players not fans.

If Smart were my player I'd have handled it much like the OSU coach did.
Encourage the apology and acceptance of the punishment but stand behind the kid.

Smart undoubtedly can not go into the stands to attack a fan.
I'd argue here he didn't do that as he was already in the stands from the play.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

My take on this is definitely effected by being a coach.

I hate fans. Fans are largely useless stupid creatures, lol.
Understand I coach for free and my players paid in Nike elite socks or likewise from their parents.
So fans make tourney organizers and venues money but mostly just annoy me.

I sympathize with players not fans.

If Smart were my player I'd have handled it much like the OSU coach did.
Encourage the apology and acceptance of the punishment but stand behind the kid.

Smart undoubtedly can not go into the stands to attack a fan.
I'd argue here he didn't do that as he was already in the stands from the play.

I don't really think there is much of a difference there. I mean, I do see your point but if the worst had happened, and really that's the entire bases behind why you can't go into the stands, I don't believe it would matter. I just think you have to approach this, if you are a player, as never getting into any kind of exchange with a fan unless you absolutely have no other choice, as a result of defending yourself against attack. The liability is just too much on the player in situations like that and while I don't think that's necessarily fair, you can't change it.

It's just not worth it.

 

[jterrell]

I don't really think there is much of a difference there. I mean, I do see your point but if the worst had happened, and really that's the entire bases behind why you can't go into the stands, I don't believe it would matter. I just think you have to approach this, if you are a player, as never getting into any kind of exchange with a fan unless you absolutely have no other choice, as a result of defending yourself against attack. The liability is just too much on the player in situations like that and while I don't think that's necessarily fair, you can't change it.

It's just not worth it.

I think it is a huge distinction. Any fan coming on court in game is subject to tackling and banishment.
Any player going from court into stands likewise punished harshly.

This was a rare case because it took two bad acts. I've seen tons of players end up in the stands and fans are either trying to get out of the way or as friendly as can be.

 

[gmoney112]

You mean a fan yelled something inappropriate at a player on the opposing team? The same thing that happens hundreds of times at every sporting venue across the country? And people are defending this guy? He's a full grown man and he committed assault because someone called him a bad name.

Smart is the face of Oklahoma State, regardless if he likes it or not. Man up. If you can't survive some fans heckling you at a basketball game you sure as hell can't handle real life. Inexcusable.

 

[WV Cowboy]

My take on this is definitely effected by being a coach.

If Smart were my player I'd have handled it much like the OSU coach did.
Encourage the apology and acceptance of the punishment but stand behind the kid.

Good stuff, .. I have coached for 20+ seasons, and I agree with this.

Smart undoubtedly can not go into the stands to attack a fan.
I'd argue here he didn't do that as he was already in the stands from the play.

You would lose that argument. He had the opportunity to just walk back on to the court, .. instead he chose to confront the moron.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think it is a huge distinction. Any fan coming on court in game is subject to tackling and banishment.
Any player going from court into stands likewise punished harshly.

This was a rare case because it took two bad acts. I've seen tons of players end up in the stands and fans are either trying to get out of the way or as friendly as can be.

As I said, I understand that point of view but I just don't think it would matter. As has been said, the opportunity for the player to simply avoid the entire situation, if the worst happened, and keep in mind, that's the distinction, would likely be the same. It would seriously damage the player. I just don't believe that you can leave room for that line of thought if you are a coach or adviser. You must advise players that there is no room for any such behavior. You must avoid it at all cost IMO because you don't know that opinion would be sympathetic to said player regardless.