An Oklahoma basketball announcer caught on a hot microphone giving members of an all-girl high school team the N word for kneeling during the national anthem now blames his diabetes for the outbreak.
“I will say that I have type 1 diabetes and that my sugar rose a lot during the game,” announcer Matt Rowan told TMZ Sports.
Rowan claimed, “It is not uncommon for my sugar to go up that I become disoriented and often say things that are inappropriate and non-hurtful.”
The 44-year-old was caught using the curse word during the playoff game between Norman High School and Midwest City High School on Thursday night.
“Are you kneeling? I hope Norman gets a kick in the ass. F – k them. I hope lose you. Will you kneel like this? “he said as the entire Norman team took a knee.
Rowan apologized for his remarks and told TMZ Sports, “I am absolutely speechless at my rhetoric. I want to offer my deepest apologies to these girls for hurting them. “
“I want to take responsibility for my actions,” he added. “Never my intention to hurt anyone. I am sick of what I said. I am so sorry for what I said. “
The announcer received intense backlash from professional athletes, including Norman’s head coach.
“Tell us how you really feel !! THAT’S WHY YOU KNEE !!! “Tweeted coach Frankie Parks, referring to athletes kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustices.
The National Federation of State High School network that produced the livestream said it is cutting ties with the broadcast crew.
“The NFHS network strongly condemns racism, hatred and discrimination, and there is no room for this in college sports or anywhere else,” the organization said in a statement on Friday.
Former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick pulled a knee during the 2016 anthem to condemn the police brutality and social injustice that led other athletes to do so over the years.
Additional coverage from Jesse O’Neill
