Jeff Orr did say a racial slur to Oklahoma State Basketball Player Marcus Smart, according to a report issued on ESPN by ESPN reporter Jeff Goodman. Goodman said that his sources (more than one) said that “Jeff Orr did say a racial slur to Marcus Smart.”
Here’s the video:
Jeff Goodman on @espn told by a source that Smart was called a 'racial slur' #MarcusSmart #okstate
— Jonathan Lewis Ketz (@JonKetz) February 9, 2014
This calls into question Jeff Orr’s statement that he did not say a racial slur to Marcus Smart after Smart fell in front of him toward the end of last night’s Oklahoma State v. Texas Tech game.
Here’s where other media outlets like the Chicago Tribune have reported Goodman’s news that Orr did issue a racial slur:
RT @zennie62: Also @bubbaprog you can't cover this up. Chicago Tribune reports @GoodmanESPN said Orr issued a slur http://t.co/OIgTmWmkBd
— Michael Clayton Law (@MichaelClaytonL) February 10, 2014
Here’s what Texas Tech issued:
In conjunction with a review of the actions of Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart by the Big 12 Conference, Texas Tech has completed its own thorough investigation regarding the incident at last night’s basketball game involving Red Raider fan Jeff Orr. Texas Tech interviewed Mr. Orr along with numerous fans, photographers and arena personnel that were seated in the area surrounding him. Mr. Orr vehemently denied the accusation that he used a racial slur and no one in the vicinity of Mr. Orr heard such a slur.
Mr. Orr has admitted to directing an inappropriate phrase toward Marcus Smart. Texas Tech has been able to verify that statement independently through video provided by Texas Tech Sports Broadcasting. At no point on the film can a racial slur be heard.
Texas Tech is committed to sportsmanship and expects fans to abide by the rules set forth by the Big 12 Conference and the university. Comments such as those used by Mr. Orr are unacceptable and not condoned by Texas Tech University.
As a result of this incident, Mr. Orr has voluntarily agreed to not attend a Texas Tech home or away basketball game for the remainder of the season.
Jeff Orr Statement
“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. 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.”
Texas Tech issues this video from a go-pro perspective, but it’s hard to make out what was said from it:
Fans like Jeff Orr should be ejected for such behavior. If a 13-year-old-girl can be ejected for tossing a racist statement at Austrialian Rules Football star Adam Geddes, then Orr, who’s 50, should have been removed from the arena last night.
Stay tuned.
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.