'14 Draft Thread pt 2: vote again? VOTE AGAIN.

[ReddWing]

I was going to post something fairly long about the Marcus Smart incident, but this isn't social studies. Allow me this, though. For a so-called post-racial United States of America, the empathy gap does not seem to be shrinking at all. Kind of makes me sad and everyday I worry about how I'm going to have to explain it to my incredibly awesome biracial sons.

If Orr really did call Marcus Smart ANY racially-infused derogatory word (or phrase), I would not be surprised. How could anyone be surprised? I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE WE COULD BE SURPRISED! I also wish Smart hadn't reacted the way he did. But I understand why he did. We should ALL understand why he did. Or at least try to.

I can't understand or have empathy for this type of stupidity. There is a reason why Hank Aaron has a Presidential Medal of Freedom and is respected by pretty much everyone in this country. I respect those that take the high road. At some point, people are going to need to rise above hurt feelings, intolerance, and childish name calling. Smart is going to be a millionaire. He has more to lose than this obnoxious old man. Smart is going to have to deal with abuse his entire career. It's probably going to be worse now. Not just from opposing fans but in the media and especially on the floor. I wonder how many homophobic, sexist, and racist jabs are throw around on the court. Hard fouls, elbows, and bad officiating. He is going to need to rein that in or the Garnetts of the league are going to eat him alive. I wanted Smart on this team but we really can't afford another Larry Sanders on the floor.

[Wise1]

I was going to post something fairly long about the Marcus Smart incident, but this isn't social studies. Allow me this, though. For a so-called post-racial United States of America, the empathy gap does not seem to be shrinking at all. Kind of makes me sad and everyday I worry about how I'm going to have to explain it to my incredibly awesome biracial sons.

If Orr really did call Marcus Smart ANY racially-infused derogatory word (or phrase), I would not be surprised. How could anyone be surprised? I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE WE COULD BE SURPRISED! I also wish Smart hadn't reacted the way he did. But I understand why he did. We should ALL understand why he did. Or at least try to.

This. The lack of empathy speaks volumes about some of the posters here.

[Wise1]

Trying to give this incident a positive spin, maybe this incident will scare us off from drafting him when we inevitably get the 4th pick since we're trying to have good-attitude players.

Nah. Give me the fighter with passion and heart. You're not going anywhere with a team full of guys that are soft in the ass.

[SupremeHustle]

I was going to post something fairly long about the Marcus Smart incident, but this isn't social studies. Allow me this, though. For a so-called post-racial United States of America, the empathy gap does not seem to be shrinking at all. Kind of makes me sad and everyday I worry about how I'm going to have to explain it to my incredibly awesome biracial sons.

If Orr really did call Marcus Smart ANY racially-infused derogatory word (or phrase), I would not be surprised. How could anyone be surprised? I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE WE COULD BE SURPRISED! I also wish Smart hadn't reacted the way he did. But I understand why he did. We should ALL understand why he did. Or at least try to.

I can't understand or have empathy for this type of stupidity. There is a reason why Hank Aaron has a Presidential Medal of Freedom and is respected by pretty much everyone in this country. I respect those that take the high road. At some point, people are going to need to rise above hurt feelings, intolerance, and childish name calling. Smart is going to be a millionaire. He has more to lose than this obnoxious old man. Smart is going to have to deal with abuse his entire career. It's probably going to be worse now. Not just from opposing fans but in the media and especially on the floor. I wonder how many homophobic, sexist, and racist jabs are throw around on the court. Hard fouls, elbows, and bad officiating. He is going to need to rein that in or the Garnetts of the league are going to eat him alive. I wanted Smart on this team but we really can't afford another Larry Sanders on the floor.

His reaction is similar too someone suddenly being burned. Few people can take it without flinching, but over time maybe they can learn how. Again, I really don't want to turn this into anything, but we'll know America is truly progressing when black kids are allowed to make mistakes and be mediocre while maintaining their dignity.

[machu46]

Trying to give this incident a positive spin, maybe this incident will scare us off from drafting him when we inevitably get the 4th pick since we're trying to have good-attitude players.

Nah. Give me the fighter with passion and heart. You're not going anywhere with a team full of guys that are soft in the ass.

Passion is fine if you can control it. And I'd also just prefer a player that is more skilled than Smart. I don't see him being a difference maker in the NBA even if he can keep his head on straight. High-risk, low-reward IMO.

[ReddWing]

His reaction is similar too someone suddenly being burned. Few people can take it without flinching, but over time maybe they can learn how. Again, I really don't want to turn this into anything, but we'll know America is truly progressing when black kids are allowed to make mistakes and be mediocre while maintaining their dignity.

This is the problem I have with this situation. Americans, as a whole, are being criticized for the actions of a single fan at one basketball game. I don't think this is fair at all. I think we have progressed a great deal. You don't see things like this ever happening at sporting events in the U.S. Not anything close to what you would see in European soccer.

Nobody is defending this fan. There are alot of people defending Smart. That's the problem. People in this country have a 'good guy vs bad guy' mentality. In reality, it's usually idiot vs. idiot, bad guy vs bad guy, mistake vs. mistake. Smart will be forgiven quicker than this guy will if it's true that he did say something racist. Even if he apologizes, he will never be forgiven and his reputation destroyed.

[DanoMac]

I was going to post something fairly long about the Marcus Smart incident, but this isn't social studies. Allow me this, though. For a so-called post-racial United States of America, the empathy gap does not seem to be shrinking at all. Kind of makes me sad and everyday I worry about how I'm going to have to explain it to my incredibly awesome biracial sons.

If Orr really did call Marcus Smart ANY racially-infused derogatory word (or phrase), I would not be surprised. How could anyone be surprised? I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE WE COULD BE SURPRISED! I also wish Smart hadn't reacted the way he did. But I understand why he did. We should ALL understand why he did. Or at least try to.

Yep. It makes me absolutely disgusted that's there still people out there that think saying that will come without repercussions, Even less, it's so **** up that there's people that can say these things openly like that without having anything in their head telling them to not do it.

This **** bothers me so much. That fan and everyone else out there who even thinks about putting someone else below you, or criticizing someone else can go **** themselves.

[randy84]

His reaction is similar too someone suddenly being burned. Few people can take it without flinching, but over time maybe they can learn how. Again, I really don't want to turn this into anything, but we'll know America is truly progressing when black kids are allowed to make mistakes and be mediocre while maintaining their dignity.

This is the problem I have with this situation. Americans, as a whole, are being criticized for the actions of a single fan at one basketball game. I don't think this is fair at all. I think we have progressed a great deal. You don't see things like this ever happening at sporting events in the U.S. Not anything close to what you would see in European soccer.

Nobody is defending this fan. There are alot of people defending Smart. That's the problem. People in this country have a 'good guy vs bad guy' mentality. In reality, it's usually idiot vs. idiot, bad guy vs bad guy, mistake vs. mistake. Smart will be forgiven quicker than this guy will if it's true that he did say something racist. Even if he apologizes, he will never be forgiven and his reputation destroyed.

And shouldn't it be? No one forced the guy to say what he did. He said something to evoke a reaction. So he shouldn't be surprised when he got a reaction.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Has it been confirmed what the fan said? Otherwise it seems like a lot of people are jumping to conclusions in this thread.

[machu46]

Has it been confirmed what the fan said? Otherwise it seems like a lot of people are jumping to conclusions in this thread.

No. Smart said he used the N word. Then he changed his story to telling him to go back to Africa, or something like that. And the fan himself says he didn't use the N word or any vulgar language, but that he did say something regrettable, and you could see in the video that he was trying to apologize before Smart shoved him.

[paulpressey25]

Amin Elhassan was on twitter last night, taking on any and all comers who would suggest last nights incident would hurt Smart's draft standing.

I think Amin is wrong. The incident last night won't drop Smart from 6 to 12 or something like that. But there are going to be a couple franchises torn with who to pick, and they may lean away from Smart. More importantly, since Smart is turning into such a terrible shooter, the thing he had going for him were his intangibles and leadership. Now a few teams will put a question mark by those.

[ReddWing]

And shouldn't it be? No one forced the guy to say what he did. He said something to evoke a reaction. So he shouldn't be surprised when he got a reaction.

If he offers a sincere apology, then no. I'd like to think we live in a forgiving society. Kobe Bryant got a complete pass from most for calling a ref a 'f----t'. If you are judging someone in the heat of the moment, you better be fair & balanced.

[randy84]

And shouldn't it be? No one forced the guy to say what he did. He said something to evoke a reaction. So he shouldn't be surprised when he got a reaction.

If he offers a sincere apology, then no. I'd like to think we live in a forgiving society. Kobe Bryant got a complete pass from most for calling a ref a 'f----t'. If you are judging someone in the heat of the moment, you better be fair & balanced.

So you are saying the fan was in the heat of the moment?

[TroyD92]

And shouldn't it be? No one forced the guy to say what he did. He said something to evoke a reaction. So he shouldn't be surprised when he got a reaction.

If he offers a sincere apology, then no. I'd like to think we live in a forgiving society. Kobe Bryant got a complete pass from most for calling a ref a 'f----t'. If you are judging someone in the heat of the moment, you better be fair & balanced.

So you are saying the fan was in the heat of the moment?

That fan is a proven instigator. Not saying Smart was in the right, but that "super fan" is hardly blameless.

[paulpressey25]

There are two issues to deal with here.

On the Texas Tech side, they need to interview the fan and ask him if he used a racial slur. If he did, I'd give the fan the opportunity to hold a public press conference to apologize to Smart and the Tech Community. If he won't do that, I'd revoke his seats and boot him out. And if the fan says he didn't use a racial slur, I'd interview the people around him, to find out what they think he said. If other fans say he did use a racial slur, again, he's out. He's lost his seat privileges for at least three years.

On Smart's side of it, he's got to suck it up and apologize for losing his cool. Regardless of how provoked he may have been, having a pro athlete lose it and attack a fan is just bad all around. It would force me to rethink drafting Smart in the high lotto, if I had other players I felt were close to equal. It isn't a question of age or maturity, it is a question of temper and self control.

All that said, if Smart drops in the draft (down into the 9-12 range), I'd love the Bucks to pick up an extra late lotto pick to select him.

[MiltownHawkeye]

I was going to post something fairly long about the Marcus Smart incident, but this isn't social studies. Allow me this, though. For a so-called post-racial United States of America, the empathy gap does not seem to be shrinking at all. Kind of makes me sad and everyday I worry about how I'm going to have to explain it to my incredibly awesome biracial sons.

If Orr really did call Marcus Smart ANY racially-infused derogatory word (or phrase), I would not be surprised. How could anyone be surprised? I WISH WE LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE WE COULD BE SURPRISED! I also wish Smart hadn't reacted the way he did. But I understand why he did. We should ALL understand why he did. Or at least try to.

I can't understand or have empathy for this type of stupidity. There is a reason why Hank Aaron has a Presidential Medal of Freedom and is respected by pretty much everyone in this country. I respect those that take the high road. At some point, people are going to need to rise above hurt feelings, intolerance, and childish name calling. Smart is going to be a millionaire. He has more to lose than this obnoxious old man. Smart is going to have to deal with abuse his entire career. It's probably going to be worse now. Not just from opposing fans but in the media and especially on the floor. I wonder how many homophobic, sexist, and racist jabs are throw around on the court. Hard fouls, elbows, and bad officiating. He is going to need to rein that in or the Garnetts of the league are going to eat him alive. I wanted Smart on this team but we really can't afford another Larry Sanders on the floor.

It's easy to say "take the high road" when you're white.

[ReddWing]

So you are saying the fan was in the heat of the moment?

They both were. It was an exciting moment of the game for both fan and player. And they both handled it poorly. The difference is you can't put your hands on people who make you mad. He crossed that line and he should rightfully be criticized for it.

[ReddWing]

It's easy to say "take the high road" when you're white.

Hank Aaron isn't white. He received death threats and handled the situation with class. Again, that's why he is an American hero and not a clown like Charles Barkley.

And yes, white people are often subjected to casual racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and so on. Everybody on this planet has been mocked for something.

[ChuckBros4Life]

I'm 100% okay with what Smart did. People comparing this to what Artest did are just being ridiculous. This wasn't a full blown brawl. Smart didn't pop anyone, he just gave a shove to a POS fan. No one's ever gotten hurt over a little shove. The shove sent the message to the fan that he's not invincible as a fan and that he can't just say whatever racial slurs he wants. This situation also brought to attention an on going issue (apparently) of this fan doing this over and over in the past. I'm not saying Smart shouldn't be punished, but he stood up for himself in a way that didn't harm anyone and I'm pretty sure he reacts that same way 10/10 times. I'm disgusted by how no one on all the major networks are even trying to sympathize with Smart here. Whose the better person here? Jeff Orr or Smart? Obivously Smart.

[Bernman]

If he received a negative statement relating to his ethnicity, then he was well within reason to push the guy. Maybe it's not the ideal way to handle it, which may have been to get the fan banned permanently from cheering on the team he loved, but you can't expect in the heat of the moment, when you're being wronged, to not feel strongly compelled to dispense a little justice yourself. These zero tolerance, 5-game suspension, regardless of circumstance, suggestions, indeed show a lack of empathy.

Now, there will be a need to further investigate what was actually said. Playing the race card can be kind of like going to rehab if you're cheating at this point. It's the easy get out of jail virtually free card. Claim racism, and it immediately shoots down most of your criticism and fears of punishment. But if his story is corroborated by a couple people who were in the area, who must have heard what the fan said, since Smart did while being a little distance away, then that's a major mitigating factor for his behavior. Then he should only be suspended like 1 game, because it has to do something, and then Smart and all of his critics should move on. It's nothing that should draw another label for the guy. But I think a lot of people enjoy doing that because it's less challenging to evaluate every situation individually, and a high like it was for that fan.