Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart has been suspended for three games for a violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy.
“Mr. Smart’s actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated. I appreciate the efforts of Oklahoma State University athletics director Mike Holder in addressing this matter, and believe this is an appropriate response to an inappropriate action.”
Smart was video taped shoving a Texas Tech fan near the end of Saturday nights game.
The man who Smart shoved is Jeff Orr, an air traffic controller in Waco, Texas, who travels to various games each year.
Smart claims that Orr called him a racial slur.
Texas Tech has investigated the event and concluded that no racial slur was spoken. Smart has apologized for calling Smart a “piece of crap.”
Smart issued a public apology in a press conference that aired Sunday evening on ESPN.Â
“I take responsibility and the consequences that come with it.” Smart said.
There’s sure to be various trains of thought on this but the announcement is hardly a surprise. Contact with a fan in any sport is going to draw a suspension.
