"The Crash Out of Stephen A. Smith Continues"

If you've been living under a rock the last few weeks, I'm not catching 
you up. This has become the biggest story in sports media since it... 
Well, the lies keep spewing and everyone is finally seeing who Stephen 
A. Smith really is. Allow me to use terminology from the past to set a 
premise.

Ever since this whole fiasco started, we've heard the face and mouth of 
ESPN's "First Take." Working your way up from journalist, contributor 
and now commentator for the show. Stephen A. Smith recently signed a 
new $100 million dollar contract and now... Sports fans are seeing his 
true colors crash out in real time.

In the 1970s, black people would use the terms "shucking' and jiving." 
Now, here's the definition of each word according to the dictionary. 

"It's slang for joking and acting evasively in the presence of an 
authoritative figure. It usually revolves around clever lies and impromptu 
storytelling, to one-up an opponent or avoid punishment." In this 
scenario, Smith got his money and started buck dancing for clicks. 
Running to different platforms speaking ill-will against LeBron James by 
continuing to prove his loyalty and keep the "black card." Well, this took 
a new low on national television during Thursday's first hour of "First 
Take."

Upon hearing and seeing LeBron James take an opportunity to chop it 
up with Pat McAfee, a slew of topics were discussed and very 
entertaining. But... Smith being beyond disgusted at this point took great 
liberty to bring up two insensitive topics which still bring ire to fans. To 
question James' attendance during Kobe Bryant's Memorial Service and 

Dwayne Wade's Hall of Fame induction. Now... This took fans by shock 
in Smith using those two events in painting a messy picture. 

As fans listened and watched this unravel, no remorse from Smith 
bringing this up to get back at James. First of all, uttering Kobe Bryant's 
name in shielding himself and slandering James' attendance. He took it 
further by saying he didn't see James in the crowd among other NBA 
players. James indeed attended the service, but didn't want the 
cameras on him.

Out of respect, James didn't want everyone to throw strays at him for 
being seeking attention. Then... Smith brought up James missing 
Dwayne Wade's Hall of Fame induction speech. If everyone recalls, 
Bronny James suffered cardiac arrest and the entire family stood by his 
side in mapping out the next phase. 

Smith must've forgotten that traumatic event which made James take a 
break from his offseason routine to be with his son. Even with that, I'm 
sure he reached out to Wade and both had an honest conversation 
about family first. If James had left his family in a traumatic event and 
flew to be in attendance for Wade's induction, he'd catch strays. 

Here's where it gets funnier as hour one concluded on Thursday 
morning. Smith had the nerve to have lower third graphics to set-up 
James' accolades before unleashing the previous insensitive comments 
without context. During the debate, former NBA player turned analyst 
Kendrick Perkins and ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst were giving 
their thoughts on James.

It became so atrocious before hour two that Smith walked back his 
comments on James' attendance at Bryant's Memorial Service. I 
wouldn't be surprised if someone checked him to say "hey, you have to 

clarity this or the fans will come after you." It was an utter disaster for 
everyone and further proves Smith has lied all these years about 
LeBron James. To say he doesn't like him on national television; then 
continues to embarrass himself by using Bryant and Wade's events to 
prove a point.

Sports reporting, journalism, broadcasting have taken a new low with 
Smith at the helm. All these years making millions off James' career and 
James never uttered a word until last week. When you talk about 
"swinging on LeBron James," that's negative press the network doesn't 
need. Saying "outside of his crew, he has no friends." So, let me say 
this: Rich Paul, Maverick Carter, Randy Mims aren't his friends? Hmm... 

Are you mad at the fact young black men don't include you in their inner 
circle? You're not tapped into NBA locker rooms anymore and can't 
have access to every player. With your new contract, we're starting to 
see a pattern of platforms; especially in the right wing media landscape. 
Making appearances on political shows and mixing your sports content 
in between is making him look bad. 
If you're supposed to be for the "black community," this isn't the man we 
used to admire and respect. It further validates what NFL Hall of Fame 
wide receiver Terrell Owens said a few years ago on "First Take" about 
Smith and questioning his blackness. With former co-host Max 
Kellerman sitting and the expression he made told the black community 
who was really on our side. Smith didn't like that one bit and led to 
Smith kicking Kellerman off the panel in 2020. 

I'll say this in closing: there's not enough money in this space to make
me sellout in pushing agendas and false narratives. Even with national
sports media networks, it always revolves around playing their game.
Using the black man to lure fans, reach astronomical ratings and then

sign a mega deal to tell lies later on. Once you sign that contract, you've
sold your soul to a shady audience.

Smith went from respectable and reliable to now being the forefront of
misinformation about superstar athletes. There's grown men in this
space who've sighed with Smith in part of being "biased MJ fans."
They'll put in their social media bios their objective is to create unbiased
content and keep it real; yet ride the wave of bashing LeBron James
and other athletes. How is this content creating? You're using the
forefront of national media and continuing a dangerous cycle of bad
broadcasting/journalism. Smith has lost fans and likely viewers on
ESPN due to this crash out in real time. Once the ratings dip, something
will give as we'll see panelists axed to keep Smith on board.

In the end, Smith's "eras tour" won't end well because all of us can see
him "shucking and jiving" for his new audience; while losing the ones
who've supported his journey. If you still view him as a man of integrity,
go see a doctor for "scrambled egg syndrome." It's where your brain
cells are runny and messy like over easy, medium and well done
scrambled eggs.

If you've tuned him out, congratulations and enjoy not hearing this
pattern of nonsense of "sports media personality." Tune into former
players platforms and hear real content versus hidden agendas for
clicks and likes. It'll give you insight to the real aspect of an athlete and
post career. Stephen A. Smith, you can keep the new audiences you're
aiming for. We'll continue enjoying a crash out in real time.