Actions such as what transpired Saturday by guys with names like Smart are the fuel of sports opinion writing.
His last name could have been something like Jones, but then this past season would not have been so ironic. He could have gone somewhere like South Central Dakota State, but then his screw-ups would not have been in the national spotlight.
However, Marcus Smart has been anything but.
We have seen flashes of the real Marcus Smart before, glimpses when he’s eroded by frustration – things like donkey-kicking chairs courtside. When he reacted to a fan’s taunting Saturday by seeking him out and shoving him however, Smart showed us an entirely different, more severe side.
Jeff Orr is the heckler’s name. The avid Texas Tech fan whose modus operandi is abusing opposing players finally met his match in the form of a pair of hands to the chest from Smart. Denying the initial claim that he used a racial slur when yelling at Smart, Orr has since admitted his actual words were nevertheless rash, and he regrets his actions. Orr has been fortunate, considering the overshadowing that his actions have received.
I personally question the morals of a middle-aged man who has made a name for himself by harassing college athletes. While Smart’s actions are by no means appropriate, the problem begins with fans like Orr.
Smart, however, is paying a price for his actions – although the severity of that punishment could be put into question. After repeat offenses, now the fans and NBA front offices have to decide whether or not to trust the sincerity of Smart’s repentance, or judge if this is the biggest mishap to date in a line extending into Smart’s future.
As a college athlete, I can sympathize with Smart’s frustration. In the heat of the moment emotions can become fragile, but at the same time one of the biggest components of upper-level athletics is mentality.
Focus, while a highly regarded part of sports, is often only perceived one-dimensionally. For those of you who lost me there, let me explain.
Focus is just as much about blocking out as it is zeroing-in; while concentration on the game at hand is vital, keeping the miscellaneous distractions around you away is equally, if not more important. This is where Smart failed – he let the distraction infiltrate his focus.
Athletes, especially college athletes, are going to mess up, and the media is going to blow them up every time. That is the circle of life – but it is just that much sweeter for reporters when Smart is dumb.
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