Announcer Caught Using Racial Slur

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A community in Norman, Oklahoma, is outraged following racist comments made by a basketball announcer during a recent game.

Reports indicate players from the Norman High School girls basketball team chose to kneel during the national anthem before a playoff game Thursday.

One of the announcers covering the game reacted by using a racial slur to refer to the players and his comments were caught by the mic.

Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino says the District “will not tolerate the disgusting words and attitudes of these announcers.”

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An Oklahoma sports announcer who was caught on video calling a high school girls basketball team the N-word blamed the racist incident on his Type 1 diabetes. Matt Rowan, a former youth pastor, identified himself as the announcer in a statement obtained Saturday by NBC News.

“I have not only embarrassed and disappointed myself I have embarrassed and disappointed my family and my friends.”

In an attempt to offer an explanation, Rowan said his diabetes will sometimes cause him to say “hurtful” comments.

“I will state that I suffer Type 1 Diabetes and during the game my sugar was spiking. While not excusing my remarks it is not unusual when my sugar spikes that I become disoriented and often say things that are not appropriate as well as hurtful,” he said. “I do not believe that I would have made such horrible statements absent my sugar spiking.”

The announcer went on to say that he is not racist and apologized for his comments.