By Chris Frangolini

In today’s society, we people value athletes as heroes. One thing we often forget is that they are also human beings as well.

They feel pain, they cry, they even get mad. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart. Smart was involved in an incident with Texas Tech super fan Jeff Orr.

Smart made a defensive play and landed out-of-bounds and as he was getting up, Orr made a comment toward Smart that he did not like.

Smart approached Orr and shoved him.

Smart was given a technical foul but was not ejected from the game.

The comment Orr made is still unconfirmed. Orr put out a statement saying that a racial epithet was not used and that he called Smart a “piece of crap.”

What Marcus Smart did was absolutely wrong and he deserved to be suspended for three games, if not more. Regardless of the situation, it is wrong to put your hands on another person. Smart is a Division I college basketball player, and he is in under a microscope. This is being under analyzed and he is only being portrayed in a negative light.

Is it fair or moral that a fan can sit and yell horrible things at an athlete, but the athlete cannot flinch or show emotion?

Smart should not have put his hands on the fan, but it does not make it right that a fan can yell horrible things without any backlash or repercussion.

This happens every night, regardless of the sport. Smart is a sophomore in college, and is only 20 years old.

The man lost his cool and he did the correct thing by apologizing, but it is time that fans are held to a higher standard.

Fans need to think twice before they yell something ignorant and personal to an athlete.

There are plenty of ways to show loyalty and passion for team by still keeping the game respectable.