Boston Celtics fans owe Marcus Smart an apology
By Sam Minton
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart detailed an experience he had with a fan outside of TD Garden and it’s clear that he is owed an apology.
When the NBA returned it came back with a purpose. Besides crowning a champion down in the bubble, the league wanted to highlight racial injustice and police brutality. Even though Boston Celtics players like Jaylen Brown and Enes Kanter were protesting murders that happened in other states, the issue continues to make itself present in Massachusetts.
Now some might think that NBA players are incapable of dealing with racism due to their stature and wealth but that is far from the truth. Marcus Smart shared his story and it is truly sad to read. What’s even more disappointing is that he is far from the only NBA player or athlete in general to deal with racism.
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Smart talked about an experience he had right outside of TD Garden. After a win, Smart saw a white woman and her child walking across the street as cars were headed their way. Marcus warned her of the oncoming traffic.
The response that Smart got was appalling
"“F*** you, you f***ing n-word!!!!”."
This incident was just a few years ago. Sadly racism is alive and well even in Boston.
The city has had a long complicated history with racism even in recent times.
The Red Sox were the last team to integrate. You can even fast forward to more recent times when Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones talked about how Red Sox fans threw peanuts at him and hurled racial slurs at him.
Some things are clear. Boston still has a lot of work to do.
It might have seemed like Boston might have progressed from its racist history but that is not the case. We have seen teams make financial investments into minority communities, players have appeared at rallies, but this isn’t a battle that can be won in a day. This is a lifelong fight.
That hate should never be spewed. This wasn’t someone who was trying to antagonize Smart or get under his skin. This was someone who was just rooting for him a few hours before.
Smart isn’t just a basketball player, he’s a human being. He’s not simply entertainment, he’s a person just like the rest of us.
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What is also clear is that Smart deserves an apology. That is something that no one should have to go through. I’m sorry. Celtics fans are sorry. We are all sorry.