Kruger addresses Smart situation with team

[sybarite]

This could only be a liberal/conservative issue to conservatives that believe that everything that doesn't conform to their alternate reality is because of 'liberalism'. It's a very short-sighted and naive way to look at the world. Sad. And a major part of the reason we have the Govt that we have, the staus quo = because of this paradigm.

Asking/hoping that the TTU fan would behave like something other than a complete jackhole is "soft" and "liberal". While if I, myself, bought into this absolutely silly Us vs Them paradigm (only created by political operatives to win elections - only because IT WORKS), I'd be continually defending the rights of knuckledragging rednecks because that's the only way I could see the issue. After all, it's only Us or Them, please don't apply any thought.

I don't check the forum as often as some of you and I certainly don't contribute as often as some of you but this is about the dumbest thing I've ever read here. Turning this issue into some kind of political nonsense only exposes the people doing it.

You don't have to be a "liberal" (meaning the stereotype, the same way cro-mags like Shaun Hannity use the term) to want ADULTS that should know better to NOT personally insult opposing players like that. "You suck" is all about sports and as far as I'm concerned, perfectly acceptable. Anyone getting upset by that needs to check themselves. But "piece of crap" is personal. It's a "soft" way of saying piece of sh*t. Is that okay? Maybe when I was 15-25 years old, as a fan, I said similar stuff to opposing players. And then I grew up. That's what a lot of "liberals" (again, using the stereotype, which actually applies to many self-described conservatives) are. Grown ups that never stopped thinking, never stopped being curious about the world around them.

Again, that's not to say we'd necessarily define ourselves as bona fide liberals, just that according to the alternate reality folks (say, FOX News watchers)...most of us are considered liberals for being remotely thoughtful.

To sum, if you're using the term "liberal" or "conservative" to summarily dismiss a view - without addressing the view itself - then I'm talking about you. Consider yourself insulted. Just don't get "soft" and offended by it.

Two people acted poorly. I don't know that either could tell you the other's politics, nor was it a part of the behavior. It is curious how anyone would want to side with the error of either.

 

[Keller Sooner]

I get all over the refs at games, mostly boos. I've always kept the coaches and players off limits from spewing venom. I don't have any problem at all with the students doing their heckling. That's part of the college atmosphere to me.
Matter of fact, I get a kick out of them.

 

[hoopsaustin]

You are taking crazy pills if you think that you can find a liberal among the Oklahoma media. Or ESPN for that matter. This isn't a liberal or conservative issue.

This is simply a bunch of jock sniffing sports groupies sitting in front of a camera and defaulting to the side of the ball player. I would agree that this is all on Smart and he got off light. And I can assure you that I don't feel that way because I have conservative leanings.

I'm talking national durr... But anyone that is vilifying Orr is pathetic

 

[NickZepp]

Some of you are nuts. Heckling at sporting events is an American tradition. We start it with grade school children playing baseball when they chant "Hey Batter Batter, Swing". Players talk sh!t to each others. Fans insult players, officials and coaches. By the time you get to college sports the heckling is more intense and often more offensive.

I don't care about the political turn this thread got to. But this is exactly right. Marcus Smart has probably talked worse to other players than he heard from Orr the other night. As Neal said in his quote in the article above he's heard things from fans before but it's apart of what you get when you sign up to play the sport. It gets a billion times worse in the NBA.

In the NBA there's professional, for lack of a better phrase, sh!t talkers all around the league. If Smart can't take it from a fan that calls him a piece of crap. He won't last a week in the NBA.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

This could only be a liberal/conservative issue to conservatives that believe that everything that doesn't conform to their alternate reality is because of 'liberalism'. It's a very short-sighted and naive way to look at the world. Sad. And a major part of the reason we have the Govt that we have, the staus quo = because of this paradigm.

Asking/hoping that the TTU fan would behave like something other than a complete jackhole is "soft" and "liberal". While if I, myself, bought into this absolutely silly Us vs Them paradigm (only created by political operatives to win elections - only because IT WORKS), I'd be continually defending the rights of knuckledragging rednecks because that's the only way I could see the issue. After all, it's only Us or Them, please don't apply any thought.

I don't check the forum as often as some of you and I certainly don't contribute as often as some of you but this is about the dumbest thing I've ever read here. Turning this issue into some kind of political nonsense only exposes the people doing it.

You don't have to be a "liberal" (meaning the stereotype, the same way cro-mags like Shaun Hannity use the term) to want ADULTS that should know better to NOT personally insult opposing players like that. "You suck" is all about sports and as far as I'm concerned, perfectly acceptable. Anyone getting upset by that needs to check themselves. But "piece of crap" is personal. It's a "soft" way of saying piece of sh*t. Is that okay? Maybe when I was 15-25 years old, as a fan, I said similar stuff to opposing players. And then I grew up. That's what a lot of "liberals" (again, using the stereotype, which actually applies to many self-described conservatives) are. Grown ups that never stopped thinking, never stopped being curious about the world around them.

Again, that's not to say we'd necessarily define ourselves as bona fide liberals, just that according to the alternate reality folks (say, FOX News watchers)...most of us are considered liberals for being remotely thoughtful.

To sum, if you're using the term "liberal" or "conservative" to summarily dismiss a view - without addressing the view itself - then I'm talking about you. Consider yourself insulted. Just don't get "soft" and offended by it.

Tldr


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stormspencer]

Again, that's not to say we'd necessarily define ourselves as bona fide liberals, just that according to the alternate reality folks (say, FOX News watchers)...most of us are considered liberals for being remotely thoughtful.

This is why we can't bring politics into this discussion because you just insulted probably half of this board. Lord knows conservatives are not capable of being "remotely thoughtful" :facepalm.....right.

Both parties are at fault in the situation. But in this case, I've seen more sympathy for Smart within the media....probably because he is an athlete.

 

[skyvue]

This is why we can't bring politics into this discussion because you just insulted probably half of this board.

And the other half of the board came in for criticism by other posters, so arguably that evened out. But I still have no desire to ever see politics brought up on this or any other sports board.

 

[stormspencer]

And the other half of the board came in for criticism by other posters, so arguably that evened out. But I still have no desire to ever see politics brought up on this or any other sports board.

We agree on that Sky.

 

[AdaSooner]

And the other half of the board came in for criticism by other posters, so arguably that evened out. But I still have no desire to ever see politics brought up on this or any other sports board.

Thank you!

 

[snydrosooner]

This is why we can't bring politics into this discussion because you just insulted probably half of this board. Lord knows conservatives are not capable of being "remotely thoughtful" :facepalm.....right.

Both parties are at fault in the situation. But in this case, I've seen more sympathy for Smart within the media....probably because he is an athlete.

Your last statement is spot on.
The media is being light on Smart and saying it was a dumb mistake and trying to paint Orr as the bad guy because who will they want to interview in the next 2 years. Smart. He has the NBA career ahead. They don't want Smart to pull a Gundy and not talk to the media. ( and that was a bad attempt to make fun of Gundy)

 

[skyvue]

I don't care about the political turn this thread got to. But this is exactly right. Marcus Smart has probably talked worse to other players than he heard from Orr the other night. As Neal said in his quote in the article above he's heard things from fans before but it's apart of what you get when you sign up to play the sport. It gets a billion times worse in the NBA.

It's different when it's two athletes talking trash. Just as it's different when you and your brother (or a friend) are giving each other grief. That's one thing, but let some guy in a bar call one of you out and it affects you differently (I'm guessing).

You can talk about the NBA all you like, but those guys are making huge money and they're adults. Smart is 19 and an amateur athlete. Does he need to toughen up before he hits the pros? He'd better. But the fifty-something who thinks he's in a position to call him a piece of sh!t (let's call a spade a spade here) while he's lying on the ground after taking a hard spill (self-inflicted, yes, but nonetheless...) needs to undertake some self-examination.

(It's beyond ironic that I would seem to be standing up for Smart, as I've ragged on the guy as much as anyone -- well, I've complained about the hype he gets, mostly -- but in fact, I'm not standing up for him. He was entirely in the wrong.)

But Orr (and fans like him) are sad cases -- if he's prepared to call a 19-year-old amateur athlete a piece of sh!t, would he do the same to a 17-year-old high school player? How about a 14-year-old middle schooler? Or the PG in a church league game?

The fact that Smart has to learn to control himself in the face of such verbal abuse is undeniable, but it doesn't mean Orr and his ilk aren't pathetic jerks.

 

[NickZepp]

Smart was probably a top 5 pick last year if he came out and is looked at as an NBA prospect. If Smart was really his namesake all he had to do was go to an official point out where he heard whatever comment he thought he heard was coming from and walk away.

 

[campbest]

I really don't feel like anybody (media, etc.) is coddling Smart...he is serving his 3 game suspension and life is moving on.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Are you kidding me???? Liberal vs Conservative crap on the hoops board??? Turning the Smart deal into a chance to bash the other party????Take that bs back to the Dome!!!!!

Some of you guys can't successfully take a leak without making it a political issue. GEEZE!!!!

 

[Section31]

I really don't feel like anybody (media, etc.) is coddling Smart...he is serving his 3 game suspension and life is moving on.

The only thing I would say about this is, it was reported and implied that Orr called him the n-word. I want Smart to address that specifically.

 

[Section31]

It's different when it's two athletes talking trash. Just as it's different when you and your brother (or a friend) are giving each other grief. That's one thing, but let some guy in a bar call one of you out and it affects you differently (I'm guessing).

You can talk about the NBA all you like, but those guys are making huge money and they're adults. Smart is 19 and an amateur athlete. Does he need to toughen up before he hits the pros? He'd better. But the fifty-something who thinks he's in a position to call him a piece of sh!t (let's call a spade a spade here) while he's lying on the ground after taking a hard spill (self-inflicted, yes, but nonetheless...) needs to undertake some self-examination.

(It's beyond ironic that I would seem to be standing up for Smart, as I've ragged on the guy as much as anyone -- well, I've complained about the hype he gets, mostly -- but in fact, I'm not standing up for him. He was entirely in the wrong.)

But Orr (and fans like him) are sad cases -- if he's prepared to call a 19-year-old amateur athlete a piece of sh!t, would he do the same to a 17-year-old high school player? How about a 14-year-old middle schooler? Or the PG in a church league game?

The fact that Smart has to learn to control himself in the face of such verbal abuse is undeniable, but it doesn't mean Orr and his ilk aren't pathetic jerks.

Cry me a river. I was at the bedlam game right behind the OSU bench. Dude acts like a POS. The fan just saw what probably appeared to be, in game speed, to be a cheap shot...even if it wasn't. You'd probably have screamed the same thing.

 

[skyvue]

Cry me a river. I was at the bedlam game right behind the OSU bench. Dude acts like a POS. The fan just saw what probably appeared to be, in game speed, to be a cheap shot...even if it wasn't. You'd probably have screamed the same thing.

No, I wouldn't.

No one hates oswho more than me. I have no respect for the program or, especially, its fan base (with no more than a handful of exceptions). I cheer for everyone against oswho -- Tech, texas, Notre Dame. Anyone.

But I'd never call an aggie player -- or any other opposing player -- a piece of crap. And neither would 90% of OU fans. Those who would do so might be louder, but they are not in the majority, not by a long shot.

 

[Section31]

No, I wouldn't.

No one hates oswho more than me. I have no respect for the program or, especially, its fan base (with no more than a handful of exceptions). I cheer for everyone against oswho -- Tech, texas, Notre Dame. Anyone.

But I'd never call an aggie player -- or any other opposing player -- a piece of crap. And neither would 90% of OU fans. Those who would do so might be louder, but they are not in the majority, not by a long shot.

Let me reframe it for you. Let's say what REALLY happened was an OSU player would've tackled WWT into the baseline (just assuming that's what this appeared to be at full speed) right in front of you in game tightly contested game. Are you seriously telling me you couldn't see youself saying that? If not you, could you easily see where someone would?

Again, I'm not sure I personally would do it. I also KNOW I wouldn't just call a "kid" (not sure I fall for that in this case) names, but I'm also not sure it's not been warranted in some instances in the past and might be in the future...although seemingly immature, let's not act like you don't get wrapped up in a game.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I really don't feel like anybody (media, etc.) is coddling Smart...he is serving his 3 game suspension and life is moving on.

Every media I've listened to ( local radio, national radio, and a little espn) has said that the guy said racial slurs.

Heck we even have pay jones saying he wishes smart would have punched the guy


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[skyvue]

let's not act like you don't get wrapped up in a game.

Not claiming that for a second. Quite the opposite.

If I thought an opposing player was guilty of a dirty play against one of our guys, I'd boo him loud and long without hesitation. And I'd boo the officials for not blowing the whistle, if that was the case.

I still wouldn't call the player a POC/S if he ended up on the ground within a few yards of me.

I like clever razzing. If Orr had made a flopping crack to Smart, I'd have been all for it. I thought it was funny when fans fired pop guns when Mizzou was playing (I can't remember how to spell that player's name). Students come up with some great stuff to get under an opposing player's skin, and I'm all for that.