Repackaging Marcus Smart

You remember Smart. He's the Oklahoma State basketball player that assaulted a fan just a couple weeks ago in a game at Texas Tech. Smart received a 2 game suspension for his -- ahem -- "inappropriate conduct". No criminal charges, nary an anger management class, and the victim/fan hasn't sued him and/or Okla St. -- yet. Marcus is back and playing on. It's like it never happened.

And, oh my, how the powers that be (see media) have been busy trying to repackage young Mr. Smart. Despite the fact Okla St. is nowhere to be seen in the Top 25 of men's college basketball teams, the Cowboys, and Smart in particular, sure seem to be getting a lot of air time lately.

The game announcers and the talking heads on the 4 letter network's variety of stations can't seem to get enough of this guy. See Marcus shoot. See Marcus rebound. See Marcus dunk. Marcus, Marcus everywhere. You'd think he was related to Tiger Woods or something.

Why the recent blitz to showcase Smart's talents has occurred would seem to be a very good question. Certainly they have succeeded in getting most to forget about his recent act of thuggery in Lubbock, Texas. But he doesn't possess eye-popping talent either. He may or may not even get drafted, let alone be successful in the NBA.

For some reason, somewhere, some people have decided to recreate the personna of Marcus Smart. Remember Arnold Schwartzenegger in the movie Total Recall? Erase the bad stuff and replace it with positive things. Keep hammering the new propaganda over and over long enough --  and the masses will forget the past.

Sure, Smart gooning it up in Texas could be considered an isolated incident. And after all, America is the land of second chances -- unless one is suspected of using steroids or -- God forbid -- slaps Oprah.  The hell hath no fury like.... but I digress.

So maybe the "smart" thing to do is give Marcus his second chance as well. If he can keep his hands to himself in the future -- then more power to him. May he live long, prosper, and maybe dunk in Lebron's face someday -- though I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

Yet there can be little doubt that currently Smart is being hyped way more than he should be.

One needs look no further than last night's game with Kansas St. visiting Smart's Okla St. For the home team, it was "seniors night". All the seniors playing their last home game are typically individually honored towards the end of such an occasion. This happens at most all universities, and that's a fitting tribute to those athletes that have spent four years trying their best for their schools and fans.

Smart was honored as well at this game. Just one problem. He's a sophomore.

The propagandists would say Smart is going to declare for the NBA draft after this season, so his college career is done. Let him be honored.

Yours truly would say that's horsepucky. He's not a senior, so why should he be honored as such?

Yes, Mr. Smart seems to be living a charmed life these days, with a lot of help from the media.

With any luck, he'll get drafted into the NBA, and sign a guaranteed multi-million dollar contract.

That would make it easier to settle the civil suit that will eventually be forthcoming from the fan that got abused in Lubbock. Because if that guy doesn't sue -- he's even dumber than this article.

I'm telling ya. Just when you think you've seen it all these days.....

The Pope -- yeah THAT Pope -- just dropped an f-bomb. In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi -- what the hell is going on around here?