The roar of the crowd and the passion of the fans are referenced by so many athletes of all sports.
The atmospheres during sporting events on professional and collegiate levels are at a chaotic frenzy that could rival a small Mardi Gras party in New Orleans.
There is no question that fans are a part of the fabric that make-up the exhilarating, hot, and beautiful outfit that is sports.
Fans pay a mind-boggling price for tickets to see their favorite teams compete and their favorite athletes out there doing what they love.
For the prices fans pay they deserve to be entertained and a certain level of respect from the athletes for their burning commitment and loyalty to the team and sport.
Athletes have shown an appre ciation for fans because of their support but does that give fans the right to say anything or do anything they want to athletes or teams they dislike.
This past Saturday in between all the Olympic hoopla going on in Sochi college basketball took center stage for a night because of a shove that seemed to be heard around the world.
In the closing moments of a game between Oklahoma State and Texas Tech Ok St. guard Marcus Smart went flying into the crowd after committing a foul while trying to stop a breakaway dunk attempt by a player on Texas Tech.
What happen afterward would cause pandemonium across the sports world and of course for young Marcus Smart.
As Smart was being helped up off the ground he turned around he suddenly turned his attention to a fan that seemed to be yelling at him. Smart stood up and then proceeded to push the fan and exchange more words with him.
Of course Smart’s retaliation is getting more media attention then the fan that actually appeared to initiate the altercation.
Smart was assessed a technical foul and had to be restrained then was dragged to the locker room immediately after the game was over.
He was suspended three games and had to face criticism and scrutiny from every realm of sports media that exists.
The fan will still let into Texas Tech games as a paying customer as if the situation never occurred and the sun perfectly shines everyday.
The reaction of Smart was over the top and is not the way a player should conduct himself but shouldn’t the same be said of the fan that started this mess.
Every fan is allowed to enjoy games and cheer for the team and players they paid to see.
Does that mean though there allowed to blatantly disrespect and verbally abuse players on the court?
No way that is just inhumane.
What precisely was said to set Smart off in that instance has not come out yet and may never ever come to light but shouldn’t heavier investigation be put into what the fan articulated.
This is not the first incident of fans showing borderline abusive behavior to athletes during games.
Current NBA player J.J. Redick was one of the most hated college basketball players of all time playing for one of the most hated college basketball programs of all time at the University of Duke.
Even he did not deserve the disgusting moments he faced during his college career.
In 2004 in a game against Maryland fans chanted an obscenity at him that involved giving him unwanted advice on what he can do to himself.
One incident at Maryland involved a fan holding up a sign talking about the supposed sexual relations he had with one of Redick’s sisters.
Just vile and inhumane.
In a game on Feb. 1, 2013 Duke fans also known as the “Cameron Crazies” tried to throw N.C. State guard Tyler Lewis off his game at the free throw line by chanting the name of his deceased grandmother.
Duke University is known as a prestigious institution but during a basketball games because their “passionate fans” they get to taunt a young kid by using his grandmother that passed away.
Prestigious? Please try egregious.
Possibly the most famous fan interference of all time was “Malice in the Palace” the famous brawl that took place at the end of a Pacers and Pistons game in Nov. 19, 2004.
Ron Artest or Metta World Peace was beaned with a water bottle while sitting on the bench and then charged into the stands like a raging bull after the fan and an ugly melee ensued.
By no means do I believe for one second that “Ron Peace” was in the right but does that mean the fan had a right to throw a water bottle at him in frustration because his team was losing?
Once again no way.
Some observers have made comments that athletes who attack fans in anyway are cowards and excuse makers.
A fan attacks a player in almost every way possible knowing the player cannot fight back unless the players wants to face severe consequences from their league, organization, and the wonderful worldwide media.
So who are the real cowards in these situations?
Players and fans will always have a connection to each other but certain fans will try their hardest to ruin this special connection.
Fans will always be a vital thread in the special cloth that makes up everything special about sports.
There is nothing wrong with showing passion for the team and players you love but let it boil over the top.
Everyone agrees Marcus Smart let his emotions get the best of him on Saturday but so did the very person that shot the gun to start the firestorm, which was the fan.
Damone Griffin
Sports Editor