A sports announcer was caught on livestream cursing and hurling racist remarks toward players of a girls' high school basketball team who were kneeling during the national anthem.
A video capturing the remarks during a livestream broadcast of the game on the NFHS Network stream was shared on Twitter Friday morning. The uproar -- and fallout -- was instantaneous.
The Norman High girls basketball team knelt in protest - something that has become a common occurrence in athletic events - ahead of their quarterfinals game against the Midwest City on Thursday night.
The announcers told their listeners that they would return after a short break and then one of the broadcasters -- apparently unaware the audio was still live -- took offense and used a racial slur as the Norman players knelt.
"They're kneeling? F--k them," one of the announcers blurted. "I hope Norman gets their a-s kicked," The Guardian quoted the man as saying.
He went on to say: "I hope they lose... They're gonna kneel like that? Hell no... F---ing n--gers."
The sports announcer, Matt Rowan, was hired by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. He was heard using expletive language twice during the anthem before the broadcast resumed.
Rowan released a statement on Friday afternoon, saying he was sorry. He blamed his comments in part on increasing sugar levels on his blood and his Type 1 Diabetes.
"I don't believe I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking," the statement read, as per The Guardian.
Rowan is a former youth pastor and describes himself as a "family man."
"We condemn and will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these announcers," Norman Superintendent Nick Migliorino said in remarks quoted by ABC News.
