An announcer calling an Oklahoma girls high school basketball game on Thursday night directed a racial slur at a team when players kneeled during the national anthem.
The announcer had no clue his microphone was still on and displaying everything he was saying about them, including calling them “f–king ni—-s.”
“They’re kneeling? Fucking n. I hope Norman gets their ass kicked … F them. I hope they lose.
“They’re going to kneel like that? Hell no.”
Among the many people who have since called him out was Jemele Hill. However, instead of focusing on the guy, she spoke on the other announcer who was with him who decided to remain quiet and not correct the guy at all.
“It’s not the racial slur that’s the most troublesome. It’s the silent acceptance by the other announcer.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
It’s far too many white people who are willingly complicit because they are unwilling to risk confrontation, being ostracized or their social position.”
The announcer, Matt Rowan, put out a statement Friday afternoon apologizing. He blamed his comments in part on spiking blood sugar and his Type 1 Diabetes.
“I made inappropriate and racist comments believing the microphone was off, however let me state immediately that is no excuse such comments should have never been uttered,” Rowan said in a statement, in part. “I am a family man. I am married, have two children and at one time was a youth pastor. I continue to be a member of the Baptist church. I have not only embarrassed and disappointed my family and friends.
“I will state that I suffer Type 1 Diabetes and during the game my sugar was spiking. While not excusing my remarks it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disoriented and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful. I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”
