In Norman, Oklahoma, a community has denounced a basketball announcer after he was caught on a hot mic calling the Norman High School girls basketball team “n*****s.”
On Thursday evening, the team opted to kneel while the national anthem played prior to starting a state championship game against Midwest City High School. Matt Rowan and Scott Sapulpa, contract announcers from the National Federation of High School Network (NFHSN), informed listeners that they were signing off for a break.
As the girls knelt, Rowan was heard saying, “They’re kneeling? F**k them. I hope Norman gets their a** kicked.”
He continued: “I hope they lose. C’mon Midwest City. They’re gonna kneel like that? Hell no. F*****g n*****s.”
Hey @NFHSNetwork looks like you forgot to cut the Mic!!! “F****** N******” is the one that really got me!! Tell us how you really feel!! THIS IS WHY THEY KNEEL!!!@Migliorino_Nick @tohara_o @NHS_AthDept @gonormantigers pic.twitter.com/mmWQAecLaF
— Frankie Parks (@CoachFParks) March 12, 2021
The team’s basketball coach, Frankie Parks, posted a video with the audio of the incident on Twitter. It has since gone viral.
Reactions on the social media platform to the offensive video were justifiably angry.
I know people in Norman who make disgusting n***** jokes when they think nobody is listening. Racism is thick here, and Southern Baptists are at the root.
— An Exhausted Mama💙 (@Theology_mom) March 13, 2021
yelling out racial slurs while the national anthem is playing is way more disrespectful than kneeling fam, quite hypocritical of him
— 𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝟮𝗸 (@vince__2k) March 12, 2021
@BarackObama
Looks like nothing ever changes in Oklahoma.
This is the state that burned down a whole black neighbourhood called
Wall Street &@SenatorLankford try to stop Certification on Jan. 6 To steal the election from Joe Biden For Donald Trump.
Criminality is contagious.— JAZZ (@redrose196) March 12, 2021
Dr. Nick Migliorino, the Superintendent of Norman Public Schools, denounced the racist rhetoric by the announcer.
“We condemn and will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these announcers. This type of hate speech has no place in our society, and we are outraged that it would be directed at any human being, and particularly at our students,” he said via a statement.
“We fully support our students’ right to freedom of expression, and our immediate focus is to support these girls and their coaches and families, particularly our Black students and coaching staff,” Migliorino continued.
“It is tragic that the hard work and skill of this team is being overshadowed by the vile, malignant words of these individuals. We will do everything in our power to support and uplift our team and everyone affected by this incident.”
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Rowan, of course, has since apologized for using the racial slur against the girls basketball team. He dared to attribute his racist behavior to low-blood sugar brought on by type 1 diabetes.
The clown announcer, who also said he’s a pastor, released a statement that we don’t give a damn about.
“While not excusing my remarks, it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disorientated and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful,” Rowan wrote.
“I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”
……..in the statement, Matt Rowan blames his racist comments and use of the n-word on type 1 diabetes. HE BLAMED RACISM ON HIS SUGAR SPIKE. pic.twitter.com/g8LzRjTiQX
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) March 12, 2021
Sure, Matt.
