Texas Tech conducted an investigation of the incident involving Red Raiders fan Jeff Orr and Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart on Saturday night. As most of you have seen, Smart shoved Orr during the game after Orr appeared to yell something derogatory at him. On Sunday, Texas Tech announced its findings and Orr issued a statement explaining his side of the story.
[Video: Marcus Smart shoves Texas Tech fan during game]
“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies to Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, Tubby Smith and the Texas Tech Men’s Basketball program,” Orr said, via Eye on College Basketball. “My actions last night were inappropriate and do not reflect myself or Texas Tech — a university I love dearly. I regret calling Mr. Smart a ‘piece of crap’ but I want to make it known that I did not use a racial slur of any kind. Additionally, I would like to offer my apologies to Texas Tech fans that have been embarrassed by the attention this incident has created.”
There was speculation that Orr slung a racial slur at Smart, but apparently he only called him a c—sucker and not a jive turkey. Smart has been suspended three games by the Big 12 for the incident and has also issued an apology.
“I want to apologize to the fan, whose name is Jeff Orr, I want to apologize to him, my teammates, my coach,” he said Sunday evening. “This is not how I [conduct] myself. I just can’t let that happen again. It’s a lesson I’ll have to learn from. It’s all upon me. I truly apologize to all those that are important to me. I feel I let my teammates down.”
Texas Tech also said that Orr has volunteered to not attend anymore games this season. Given his history of heckling opponents during games, that is probably for the best.
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