An Oklahoma sports activities announcer has apologized for calling a women highschool basketball staff the n-word.
In accordance with Information Onyx, Matt Rowan, a contract sports activities announcer for the Nationwide Federation of Excessive Faculty Community, stated the slur considering his mic was turned off throughout a break. On March 11, Rowan and one other announcer, Scott Sapulpa, had been reporting highlights from a playoff recreation between Norman Excessive Faculty and Midwest Metropolis Excessive Faculty.
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Because the “Star-Spangled Banner” performed, the Norman Excessive women basketball staff took a knee. Rowan was heard on a video posted by the staff’s coach, Frankie Parks, disparaging the staff for doing the symbolic gesture.
“They’re kneeling? F**ok them. I hope Norman will get their a** kicked,” he stated. “I hope they lose. C’mon Midwest Metropolis. They’re gonna kneel like that? Hell no. F*****g n*****s.”
Parks posted the surprising video to Twitter tagging the varsity’s superintendent, the NFHSN and others. The video went viral.
“Hey @NFHSNetwork seems such as you forgot to chop the Mic!!! “F****** N******” is the one that actually acquired me!! Inform us how you actually really feel!! THIS IS WHY THEY KNEEL,” he wrote.
Hey @NFHSNetwork seems such as you forgot to chop the Mic!!! “F****** N******” is the one that actually acquired me!! Inform us how you actually really feel!! THIS IS WHY THEY KNEEL!!!@Migliorino_Nick @tohara_o @NHS_AthDept @gonormantigers pic.twitter.com/mmWQAecLaF
— Frankie Parks (@CoachFParks) March 12, 2021
Norman Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino issued a press release denouncing the incident.
“We condemn and won’t tolerate the disgusting phrases and attitudes of those announcers. Any such hate speech has no place in our society, and we’re outraged that it might be directed at any human being, and notably at our college students,” he stated.
“We totally assist our college students’ proper to freedom of expression, and our instant focus is to assist these women and their coaches and households, notably our Black college students and training employees,” Migliorino continued. “It’s tragic that the onerous work and ability of this staff is being overshadowed by the vile, malignant phrases of those people.”
“We are going to do all the pieces in our energy to assist and uplift our staff and everybody affected by this incident.”
Rowan apologized by way of a written assertion. As an alternative of being accountable for the racist vitriol, he blamed on having low blood sugar brought on by diabetes.
……..within the assertion, Matt Rowan blames his racist feedback and use of the n-word on sort 1 diabetes. HE BLAMED RACISM ON HIS SUGAR SPIKE. pic.twitter.com/g8LzRjTiQX
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) March 12, 2021
“Whereas not excusing my remarks, it isn’t uncommon when my sugar spikes that I turn into disorientated and infrequently say issues that aren’t applicable in addition to hurtful,” Rowan wrote.
“I don’t imagine that I might have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”
