One Smart, two at fault

I attend every Indiana men’s basketball game and have for many years.
Because of my parent’s longtime possession of season basketball tickets, I’ve been present to watch many different teams transition through Assembly Hall.

I remember Bracey Wright, Armon Bassett, Marco Killingsworth and Rod Wilmont. I drove down to every single game during Tom Crean’s first, and very unsuccessful, seasons.

I watched Victor and Cody come and go — and this year, for the first time, watched the players as fellow classmates.
I’ve seen a lot, and I’ve heard a lot.

Regardless of who has been wearing the candy stripes, I have never witnessed a basketball game where at least one fan didn’t get a little too emotional.

Passion and frustration take control. Throughout the game, a number of fans will stand and scream at some player or coach as some sort of therapeutic
exercise.

Whether or not the comments are warranted or intercepted usually goes unnoticed by the source, the game ends either successfully or not and everyone moves on.

Marcus Smart, an Oklahoma State basketball player, notoriously shoved Jeff Orr, an opposing team’s fan, during a matchup with Texas Tech. People have anything but moved on.

The media has tirelessly covered the story of Smart’s sporadic bit of violence with even one broadcaster claiming the act was “disgusting.”

I agree physical altercations in the heat of sporting confrontation is never a good move.
Most of us remember Ron Artest’s incident, now affectionately referred to as the “Pacer’s Brawl.”

However, I think a lot of people are missing the point.
I don’t care if Orr called Smart a racial slur, derogatory name or simply a loser. He is an adult, Smart is a kid — a kid who has a lot of pressure to perform, behave and live spotlessly day by day, on his shoulders.

There is no situation that should warrant an adult getting into the face of a college athlete during a sporting event.

Regardless of the fact that Smart acted inappropriately, I argue Orr acted equally inappropriately.

Smart’s statement accepting complete responsibility was admirable, and I would bet that there will never be a repeat offense.

I would also bet that if Smart shook off Orr’s comment and rejoined the game, Orr would inevitably have returned to Texas Tech to heckle another player half his age from another team.

It’s a learning experience many people can benefit from, including many fans that will be returning to Assembly Hall this week.

Passionate support of a home team makes college athletics fun. But in my mind, when it brings a player to violent actions, everyone involved is equally at fault.

So let’s keep the negative and derogatory comments to a minimum during Wednesday’s matchup against Penn State.

­— cnmcelwa@indiana.edu
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Claire McElwain
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