Marcus Smart shove - OK State/Texas Tech (Video)

[Texas Aggie]

So when did it become a good thing for a person to call someone a "Piece of crap" and not expect someone to confront them?

Nobody said it was a good thing, but as I said earlier, words are never a sufficient provocation for physical violence. He didn't shoot the guy, or even punch him, but he did push him. If the guy had fallen over and hit his head, he could have been seriously injured.

Coaches are responsible for teaching their kids that if they have a problem on the floor, they need to address an official about it. The official then notifies the host school for security issues. This was a conference game of one of the 5 or 6 most well known college conferences. At the very least, OSU could file a report with the Big 12 who would then be responsible for handling it. Shoving a guy is not anywhere in that mix.

JR, you know better than anyone on here there are right ways and wrong ways to handle a situation. We can't excuse ANY PART of wrong behavior just because someone MIGHT have had a good reason for being upset.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Nobody said it was a good thing, but as I said earlier, words are never a sufficient provocation for physical violence. He didn't shoot the guy, or even punch him, but he did push him. If the guy had fallen over and hit his head, he could have been seriously injured.

Coaches are responsible for teaching their kids that if they have a problem on the floor, they need to address an official about it. The official then notifies the host school for security issues. This was a conference game of one of the 5 or 6 most well known college conferences. At the very least, OSU could file a report with the Big 12 who would then be responsible for handling it. Shoving a guy is not anywhere in that mix.

JR, you know better than anyone on here there are right ways and wrong ways to handle a situation. We can't excuse ANY PART of wrong behavior just because someone MIGHT have had a good reason for being upset.

First of all my response that you quoted was not towards you. You cannot really answer my question as you did not make the statement I had an issue with.

Secondly I did not say anything about justifying bad behavior. I do not know why I have to be offended by one behavior and have to somehow justify the action or reaction. Honestly I think if the fan keeps his mouth shut, none of this happens. But that does not mean that I do not feel the reaction was wrong and Smart said as much in his press conference. And I never said the suspension was not warranted. I think he was lucky not to get more games for a suspension.

Peace

[Rich1]

I ref by night but my day job is coaching HS in Texas. Here is how it works:

If an athlete comes out for my team who was not at my school last year or did not attend one of my junior high feeder schools, I must fill out a "prior athletic participation form" (PAPF). The form is signed by AD and is then sent to the kids old school for the old coach and AD to sign before it is filed with the UIL. If the old school feels the kid has moved JUST for athletic reasons (not a job transfer, etc.) then they note it on the form and UIL will investigate. If not, then the kid is eligible day 1. The athlete may not participate in varsity sports until it is resolved but there is no limition on sub-varsity.

In my 15+ years of coaching I have never denied a kid nor had one denied. I have had some transfer under suspicious reasons (suddenly had apt. on other side of town but rest of family still works & lives here) but its not worth the hassle unless you have solid evidence so it is rarely enforced.

By the way, this applies to athletics only. Yes, a band student can move with no penalty. In fact, a kid can win a $10,000 cash prize for playing the piano but an athlete can'the given anything of real value -- as a coach I can't even give a poor kid lunch money or let them keep the used shoes we play in at the dnd of the season. But, the rules came about out of necessity due to extreme cheating so in reality they are good policies (check out "Friday Night Lights" if your not familiar).

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich1

I ref by night but my day job is coaching HS in Texas. Here is how it works:

If an athlete comes out for my team who was not at my school last year or did not attend one of my junior high feeder schools, I must fill out a "prior athletic participation form" (PAPF). The form is signed by AD and is then sent to the kids old school for the old coach and AD to sign before it is filed with the UIL. If the old school feels the kid has moved JUST for athletic reasons (not a job transfer, etc.) then they note it on the form and UIL will investigate. If not, then the kid is eligible day 1. The athlete may not participate in varsity sports until it is resolved but there is no limition on sub-varsity.

In my 15+ years of coaching I have never denied a kid nor had one denied. I have had some transfer under suspicious reasons (suddenly had apt. on other side of town but rest of family still works & lives here) but its not worth the hassle unless you have solid evidence so it is rarely enforced.

By the way, this applies to athletics only. Yes, a band student can move with no penalty. In fact, a kid can win a $10,000 cash prize for playing the piano but an athlete can'the given anything of real value -- as a coach I can't even give a poor kid lunch money or let them keep the used shoes we play in at the dnd of the season. But, the rules came about out of necessity due to extreme cheating so in reality they are good policies (check out "Friday Night Lights" if your not familiar).

Thanks for providing some insight and facts.

[CountTheBasket]

Thanks for those who provided the insight on the TX moving for athletics rule, it does make more sense to me now knowing the process and why it was put into place.

I think no matter what, Smart needs to hold himself to a higher standard for his own benefit if no other reason. Everyone knows who he is, nobody knows who obnoxious Texas Tech fan in row 2 is. Because of this incident, he now has to deal with questions about his character from potential future employers (NBA Teams) which he otherwise may not have had to answer. I have to imagine this very minimally affects the life of (probably) very wealthy TT donor in row 2, outside of a few internet blogs that will blow over.

All that being said, it is hard to process all those thoughts in the heat of a moment, especially being 19 years old. The incident could've turned much worse and thankfully for all it didn't. Hopefully he learns from it as I'm sure he will.