Ortiz: Sterk owes Staley an apology

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley talks with players during a game against the College of Charleston on Dec. 5. (AP Photo)Jim Sterk must apologize or at least clarify. He owes South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley at least that much.

Words matter, and the University of Missouri athletics director chose his poorly when he accused Staley of promoting an atmosphere in which South Carolina fans would use the "N" word against opposing players.

“We had players spit on and called the ‘N’ word and things like that,” Sterk said in an interview on Columbia's KTGR 1580 AM on Jan. 30. “I mean it was not a good environment, and unfortunately I think Coach Staley promoted…