Sun Devil
Death and Taxes
See story here: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/marcus-smart-shoves-fan-loss/story?id=22429765
I wish people understood that you cannot always say what you want at games just because you've bought tickets, just as you cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater just because you feel that you have free speech. Now at this point there is a current investigation on what Mr. Orr the fan said to Smart while in the stands, but of course there are allegations against Mr. Orr for using racial slurs against Mr. Smart but there are reports that those sitting next to Mr. Orr claimed that he didn't but there are other reports citing that he did. What is most obvious is that Mr. Smart will have a tarnished image of someone who reacted violently and judging by the comments I've read in the above link that much is apparent.
Growing up, my mother used to tell me that it doesn't matter how smart you are, how successful or rich you are in this society you are still a "nigga" in the eyes of those who see you as less than human. Despite it being 2014 I still believe such a philosophy still holds true. This man Smart unlike most talented college athletes decided to stay another year instead of going to the NBA. If you asked me he should do all 4 years, graduate and get his degree then jump the ship but this is his life. The point is, is that nobody is going to care about what Mr. Orr said, all they are going to see is a 19 year-old black kid (I call him a kid because compared to my age of 31 going on 32 he is a kid in my eyes) shove some fat white guy. Society will immediately label him (which if you read the comment section it's already proven) he is a "thug" and is ghetto. Such racially charged words such as "thug" and "ghetto" especially towards someone like Smart who reacted inappropriately are sure signs that we still have a long way to go.
I personally believe that we need to really start setting rules and start holding fans accountable for their behavior. Remember, a lot of these sports venues sell beer and beer or any alcoholic beverage is what I call liquid courage. Most people who do have hostile and racist intentions aren't going to say what they feel publicly or in the face of those whom they have such negative feelings towards, but if you get them drinking that liquid courage that is when those feelings come out. On this matter regardless I still say punish Mr. Smart and talk to him about the consequences of physical violence despite being taunted by racist words. Mr. Smart needs to understand that in life and especially someone who is at the pinnacle of their athletic career are always going to be targeted because 1) He is black 2) He will be black with millions of dollars which unfortunately will prompt people to try to test his ability of restraint. I also think Mr. Orr ought to be punished and if it is proven that he was using racist words he needs to be banned from the games.
People need to understand that free speech no matter what venue does not mean free from consequence and that is what people need to realize. Freedom of Speech is not freedom of responsibility. We all are accountable for what we say and this extends beyond the sports venues but just in life period. I think the NCAA, and especially FIFA need to take these things seriously, because quite frankly soccer (or futbol) has the most hostile fans of any sport today, but if we don't hold fans accountable for hostile behavior which leads to violence we only allow such behaviors to continue.
I wish people understood that you cannot always say what you want at games just because you've bought tickets, just as you cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater just because you feel that you have free speech. Now at this point there is a current investigation on what Mr. Orr the fan said to Smart while in the stands, but of course there are allegations against Mr. Orr for using racial slurs against Mr. Smart but there are reports that those sitting next to Mr. Orr claimed that he didn't but there are other reports citing that he did. What is most obvious is that Mr. Smart will have a tarnished image of someone who reacted violently and judging by the comments I've read in the above link that much is apparent.
Growing up, my mother used to tell me that it doesn't matter how smart you are, how successful or rich you are in this society you are still a "nigga" in the eyes of those who see you as less than human. Despite it being 2014 I still believe such a philosophy still holds true. This man Smart unlike most talented college athletes decided to stay another year instead of going to the NBA. If you asked me he should do all 4 years, graduate and get his degree then jump the ship but this is his life. The point is, is that nobody is going to care about what Mr. Orr said, all they are going to see is a 19 year-old black kid (I call him a kid because compared to my age of 31 going on 32 he is a kid in my eyes) shove some fat white guy. Society will immediately label him (which if you read the comment section it's already proven) he is a "thug" and is ghetto. Such racially charged words such as "thug" and "ghetto" especially towards someone like Smart who reacted inappropriately are sure signs that we still have a long way to go.
I personally believe that we need to really start setting rules and start holding fans accountable for their behavior. Remember, a lot of these sports venues sell beer and beer or any alcoholic beverage is what I call liquid courage. Most people who do have hostile and racist intentions aren't going to say what they feel publicly or in the face of those whom they have such negative feelings towards, but if you get them drinking that liquid courage that is when those feelings come out. On this matter regardless I still say punish Mr. Smart and talk to him about the consequences of physical violence despite being taunted by racist words. Mr. Smart needs to understand that in life and especially someone who is at the pinnacle of their athletic career are always going to be targeted because 1) He is black 2) He will be black with millions of dollars which unfortunately will prompt people to try to test his ability of restraint. I also think Mr. Orr ought to be punished and if it is proven that he was using racist words he needs to be banned from the games.
People need to understand that free speech no matter what venue does not mean free from consequence and that is what people need to realize. Freedom of Speech is not freedom of responsibility. We all are accountable for what we say and this extends beyond the sports venues but just in life period. I think the NCAA, and especially FIFA need to take these things seriously, because quite frankly soccer (or futbol) has the most hostile fans of any sport today, but if we don't hold fans accountable for hostile behavior which leads to violence we only allow such behaviors to continue.
