Character. You’re going to hear that word a lot over the next few days, just like you tirelessly heard words like ‘thug,’ ‘legacy’ and ‘dynasty’ as this NFL season came to a close. Character. How do we define it and what does it even mean? A basketball player shoves a fan. He was wrong for doing so, right? Welcome to the front row, Jeffery Orr. Your fifteen minutes of fame have just begun. More at: http://sportschump.net/2014/02/09/m...ter-altercation-with-fan-but-should-it/13246/
I'd really like to know what Orr said to him. I haven't read anything yet to confirm or deny what was actually said.
Rumors are abound that Orr dropped the N bomb on him. If he did, others in the stands should have shown more anger.
That is correct, Mike. And Orr said he won't be attending any more games this season. Both sides have issued their apologies.
Wonder if Orr did that on his own, or the Texas Tech administration asked Orr not to come back? Heard that Orr drove 600 miles to go see Tech play in Lubbock. Now, that's a fan!
Regardless of what may have been said, if someone can't be in a public situation like this & keep their composure, they should just stay safe & sound at home behind closed doors with their fragile psyche intact.
These kids face way too much pressure and scrutiny. The NBA and NCAA for that matter needs to educate them on how to face the media, the scrutiny and sometimes the verbal abuse. I don't blame Smart at all. Even if he was out of line, I blame the system. It's not the first time it happens to a student athlete and it won't be the last. There needs to be a better system. It goes for all sports. One of the first college football games I EVER watched was Oregon @ Boise State, when Blount punched the Boise State player! And that was not even his first offense. Again I blame the system not Blount. Most of these student athletes come from a shady background and if they don't have the proper support they will continue being thugs.
That stigma hasnt stopped following Ron Artest and it will not stop following Smart. Dropping a N Bomb or anything else on someone isnt a reason for a player to put his hands on a fan
Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News wrote kind of a tongue in cheek column on The 10 Commandments Of Sports Heckling that I thought was funny. Here's the link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/co...hould-follow-including-when-to-trash-talk.ece
Agree that sports entities being the Big Business that they are, do nothing but pimp young athletes for their own gain but that's a separate issue unto itself. No way does their greed exonerate anyone from their own actions. The idea that a young athlete's background requires them to continue 'raising them' like extended parents to make up for their lack of upringing/control is actually the bane of today's society where there's always reasons that it's others that create the issues, not them. Enough with the excuses... To this day, I live by my upbringing that's been referred to by others at times as being Neanderthal in nature where I believe there are people that deserve their asses beat at the end of the day...that it's the only way to reach them. Only difference is that I learned & matured that as long as I'm left alone & are allowed to walk away, the words are nothing but that...words. I have no responsibility nor right to pass down punishment for others ignorance & aggression just cuz my sensibilities have been riled. I come from a rough background & I don't use it as an excuse & haven't relied on others to 'understand' where I come from so as to get a pass on stupid things I've done. I did 'em, own 'em, & learned from 'em. I paid dues like I should have at the time & that's life's lesson. This kid should have it shoved up his ass & broken off & only then should dialogue take place of sports entities obvious & egregious culpability in the big picture. As it is, the kid learns nothing from any defense for his aggressive BS...
