EJ didn't go into the crowd and light somebody up. He made a basketball play and I don't think it was even that classless.

Smart shoved some old bastard that was mean to him.

From a discipline standpoint, no, it probably won't. He's going to get suspended regardless. But it's going to mean everything about how this situation is ultimately perceived.

Based on what he supposedly said, that old bastard is probably lucky it wasn't more than that.

Eh it's sports. It's a weird thing. Old man says shit like that out of the gym and he may get thrown in the river with concrete shoes. But that same thing and worse is said at virtually every game.

There is no acceptance for what smart did. At any level. Dudes put up with that crap night in and night out and nobody goes into the crowd lighting dudes up. No matter what they say.

Sure, you can't go around shoving asshole fans as an athlete, but don't ask me to feel bad for a guy who probably got exactly what he deserved.

Why does it matter what he called him?

You serious? I think it's pretty obvious why it matters. Potentially changes the entire outlook of what happened.

Actually, no. It doesn't matter at all. Nothing changes the outlook of what happened. Do you honestly think this is the first time a black athlete was called a "****er" by a white fan?

You couldn't be any more wrong here and I shouldn't have to explain why.

Nope. Heck, I've been in AFH and several other B12 arenas many times so I know it isn't.

Look, I hate bigots as much as anyone else but it is absolutely not acceptable nor justified for an athlete to get physical with a fan (unless it's in self defense obviously). That's just not something you do.


Did you see anyone react to it the way Marcus Smart did?

I don't disagree. If every player did what Smart did when awful words were directed their way, we wouldn't be able to get through too many games. But if this guy actually said what he supposedly said, I can't say I care too much about Smart shoving him. And I don't think that would be such an uncommon opinion among most either. Hence, my point about outlook/perspectives shifting.


Nope. But do you see anybody saying Smart shouldn't be disciplined for what he did?

Unrelated, but who is everyone's B12 POY so far?

Mine would be Embiid for the enormous impact he's had when he's actually in, but I think Wiggins would actually be the favorite to win it if they did the voting right now...especially the way he's progressed in conference play. Kane or Ejim would probably be right there as well. Smart (especially now) and Staten probably don't stand a chance due to their teams' lack of success.

Sure bet Smart wish he would have left after last year.

What an embarrassing year for him and the Pokes.

"Go back to Africa."

Not sure I follow what you're saying. You've acknowledged that it is completely unacceptable, he should be punished, he's facing the same environment that everyone else is, and you still think it matters what was said.

It doesn't. It's not about the fan getting hurt. I wouldn't piss on the guy if he were on fire. This is about the remarkable fall from grace that Smart is going through. Last year the dude was fairly untouchable. He beat a really good KU team in AFH by himself basically, he was a lock for the lottery, and after he came back, he was thought to have his team in the hunt for a title, if he showed progress at all he should be the best player in the nation by a mile, and should be a lock for top 5. Now, he's 4-6 in conference, not shooting well, not playing to the level he was last year, has a reputation as a flopper rather than just being more clutch and athletic than everyone on the floor and now he goes after a fan? That is a significant role reversal. And just Smart gets all the credit for OSU success, justly or unjustly, he's going to get credit for the failures.

If he were a hawk we'd all love him. He'll his situation is not completely unlike Brandon Rush. Fact is though he's not a hawk, he plays in conference and the dude isn't untouchable like he was last year.