After starring in the actions of a announcer, the Norman High School women’s basketball team made headlines on their own terms by winning the Oklahoma 6A state championship.
The Tigers (19-0) culminated their perfect season with a 48-37 victory over Bixby on Saturday.
Norman gained national attention after the racist words of a broadcaster were heard before playing the team’s quarterfinal on Thursday.
The incident occurred when “The Star-Spangled Banner” began playing. The broadcasters told their listeners on the NFHS network network that they would return after a break and then one, unaware that the audio was still live, used an explosive and an epithet while the Norman players s they knelt down.
“Are they on their knees? F — them,” said announcer Matt Rowan. “I hope Norman gets his ass fucked … F — ing N-words.”
On Friday, Rowan apologized.
“During the Norman High School girls’ basketball game against Midwest City, I made racist and inappropriate comments believing the microphone was off; however, let me say right away that there is no excuse for these comments not to be they should have never spoken, ”Rowan said in a statement. .
He added that a disease may have contributed to the outbreak.
“I’m going to state that I suffer from type 1 diabetes and, during the game, my sugar increased,” Rowan said. “While you don’t apologize for my remarks, it’s not uncommon for my sugar spikes to be able to disorient me and often say things that aren’t appropriate, in addition to hurting. I don’t think I would have made such horrible statements if I hadn’t been there. there would be sugar. “
The Oklahoma High School Activities Association and the NFHS Network also issued statements apologizing for the comments.
Kneeling during the anthem during U.S. sporting events has become a familiar way for athletes to express themselves, often protesting racial or social injustice. Norman High School Superintendent Nick Migliorino said the school district supports the right of students to express themselves freely.
“We condemn and will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these advertisers,” Migliorino said Friday. “We will do everything in our power to support and elevate our team and all those affected by this incident.”
Norman knelt down again during the anthem ahead of Saturday’s state title game, doing so while wearing T-shirts that read “THIS IS WHY WE NEED OURSELVES”.
The Tigers have won two consecutive state titles. Norman won in 2019; no championship was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The information from The Associated Press was used in this report.