As a fan of sports, like many of you, when is ESPN going to get rid of Stephen A. Smith? In the past he said there has been a witch hunt for Pacman Jones, Michael Vick and OJ Simpson. He also stated in reference to Donovan McNabb, that he wasn't surprised McNabb spoke out because he is speaking for a lot of black athletes that feel the same way. Well, call me stupid, but instead of saying how a re-habbing QB wasn't ready to return to the game was wrong to say anything other than, he was making a mockery of being a professional QB.
Instead of saying what he did off the field and not on it, why doesn't he "man up" and say McNabb stunk? I must have missed where the Falcon's new QB Leftwich was saying he wasn't getting any offers because he was black. Maybe the Eagles choice of QBs were limited, but Smith looks stupid for his remarks when talking about McNabb. When was the last time Doug Williams, the super bowl winning QB came out and said he should have won more Super Bowls because he earned the right to play for a better team and should have been traded?
Fact of the matter is, you stunk McNabb. You were not in sync, your passes were high, low, and just a bit outside. Then, Stephen A. Smith (SAS) chimes in with that he knows many more black players feel that way also. Instead of the mentality of "I can talk louder then you and therefore I am right" mentality, why don't you address issues like the former NFL Players not getting their funding for past injuries?
Even your staunch supporter that you used to work with, Jim Rome, stated you were offline with your support of McNabb and eventhough I have had your back in the past my man, you are as wrong and off line as McNabb's attempt at the deep toss.
ESPN has gone from the leader in the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network to a third class (if that) "National Enquirer of Sports Broadcasting." Your commercials are more entertaining then some of your broadcasters. Neil Everett needs to learn to not try and do a complete sports segment in one breath. John Buccigross needs to lose the "topper" and admit he has no hair. Stuart Scott has lost all creedence since the "Who cares" filler show he was on.
And finally, with all the sports in the world, we have to suffer through Mike and Mike, a radio show being broadcast in the morning. Could you do us ALL a favor get rid of Tim Kirkjian because every other word out of his mouth is a laughing chuckle? I would be remiss if I didn't ask you what was up with your the "World Championship of Cup Stacking?" What The #### Over? ESPN has to be more hard up for options then a sailor on a 9 month tour of duty that slept through his only shore leave. Do us another favor ESPN, put a countdown clock on your webpage for the time until we start the next National Spelling Bee Championships. All I can say is you should count your blessings that Chris Berman hasn't relocated himself to FoxSports' pre-game show. And now, I would like to buy a vowel.
Hear hear, deadgrunt. I thank the Lord quite often that I was born with a level of intelligence that allows me to tune out Stephen A. Smith and realize that even though he is a public figure on a huge sports television empire does not make him wiser than me. Keep talking at a high volume Mr. Smith. It still doesn't make it so.
Agree with the rest of your post and Socal as well. I miss the old days of ESPN. Sigh.
I remember a time when Steven A. was one of the freshest, smartest commentators on T.V. He was able to break down issues in the sporting world and show them in a different light.
That was before he adopted Chris Rock's "Nat X" persona (from SNL). He still has fresh takes, but clearly seems to have targeted an "urban street punk done well" type of niche now. I just can't get past the Nat X thing ... having seen him before he adopted this persona, I simply can't buy his current schtick as any more than a contrivance.
Too bad, ... I might like his Nat X routine had that been the only thing I'd ever seen from him - I wouldn't know it's an act in that case and might appreciate such a radically different approach to sports commentary. But knowing it's an act makes it tough to ####.
Give it up, Steven A. The Nat X thing has worn out its welcome (two years ago at least).
I've never liked Stephen A. because he just seems to look down on his peers. He acts like his opinion is the only one that matters, the only one that's correct, and that everybody else should, quite frankly, shut up.
My friend, you are so on the money in every possible way! I wasn't a huge fan of the DP Show, but hey, it was adequate sports talk radio. Now we have Mike Tirico from 1pm to 3pm eastern and then we get Stephen A.'s NY show from 3pm to 4pm. I can handle Tirico, he's not too bad, but an hour of Stephen A. makes me turn off ESPN Radio quickly. I can't stand to hear him talk.
As far as Mike & Mike, I can handle Greenie sometimes, but Golic is a freakin' ####!
You know what? I agree with you. There are some challenges that black players face (all positions), but a lot of what I have seen is because they actually brought it on themselves. I used to like Stephen A. Smith for a while, but what really turned me off was his comments this past Sunday on the Sports Reporters where he all but said that he supported Bill Belichick (check out my blog "And Then There was Bill) for his heinous crime of cheating. At that point, I labeled Stephen A. Smith as a "sell out" and an Uncle Tom. Black QB's have to perform well. I do notice that sometimes some teams put a little more pressure on them, but this is football, and whenever there are exhorbitant amounts of MONEY involved, you can rest assured that there will be challenges for everyone. I wonder where Eli Manning is going to end up? As for D. Mac?? Did you see how he completely embarassed anyone who has ever been a QB this week? Stevie Wonder could throw better passes in my opinion. D. Mac, it's not because you are black, it's because you suck!
Last edited by msproper on September 19th at 8:52 AM.
msproper.... slamming a "suck" bomb on SAS shows you were serious. Being of white/Irish/German/native American and heinz 57 descent only certain things truly irk me like SAS and his arrogance. I was talking with the neighbor who is black last night and we were talking over amaretto slammers about athletes, past and present. OJ, Pacman, Barry Sanders, Elway, Butkus and others in all major sports. Something along the lines of best all time, worst team mates, etc, etc. After about 20 minutes on each sports of studs and studettes, I mentioned hockey. He said, Grant Fuhr and Anson Carter. I asked about Donald Brashear and he had no clue. He thought there were only two hockey players in the NHL or that was really about it. I mentioned Jarome Iginla, Kevin Weekes, George Larocque, Ray Emory, Peter Worrell and Mike Grier. I realize now I forgot the original Willie O'Rea. He recognized Iginla's name, but had no clue who he played for.
He really had no clue about the black NHL players. I asked him if he remembered Marty McSorley hitting Brashear in the back of the head with a stick? No. Then, he said, that black hocley atletes weren't real athletes. Shortly afterwards, I called it a night.
Then when I came home from work, we were talking about OJ and later got on SAS. He said SAS was has an incredible insight into the black perspective. I finally disagreed and said, "SAS was stupid with his viewpoints." His answer was, "No, I was stupid because whites don't understand the sufferings of blacks." I was insulted, considering my father is black and have been to the eastern part of Kentucky's coal mining country where my grandfather lived and NEVER had electricity. He said, "no one other then a black understands the concessions blacks have given up." I had no idea how the GPS got us onto that road!
I said, "listen, name one race/nationality that has not suffered?" He said the whites. I said, wait a minute, weren't the whites alongside of the blacks in the great depression?" For every instance of suffering, I gave him and example of an equal injustice.
I will only say this in closing, that in 20+ years of the military, there were many times, when I was thankful my children lived in a multi-racial community. When a family lost a loved one because of an IED or action in combat, there weren't only whites for the whites or blacks with the blacks. It was community losing a brother, sister, father, mother, son or daughter. Never a black or white, but a family. It would be nice to have the face value of someones shortcoming's (ie McNabb, Smith, Kirkjian and others) be taken for what they are. Pitifull examples of making excuses for horrible performances.
Deadgrunt--- You are totally on. I have read, studied, memorized, and purged so much "black" history that I am ready to just live my life. You know, some people really need to wake up and smell the asphalt for a change. As you can see from my picture, I am black. I have been that way all of my life. It does not give me an excuse to hate, be ignorant, commit crimes, or otherwise. What it does do is offer me the opportunity, as a human being, to make differences in society, not only for myself, but for my 6 children. I have seen so much in my life, but I know that as long as I keep living I will see more.
The sports arena is one that allows for such foolishness to be splashed across the media. They thrive on that. As soon as a player says, "It's because I am black" I know that whatever station is covering that interview will have the most ratings because EVERYONE will want to watch. WAKE UP PEOPLE.
Deadgrunt, your neighbor needs to leave the past in the past and start living for our future. SAS is a #### in my opinion. I think people think he knows what he is talking about because he talks loud and fast. Well, guess what? That puts him in the same category as #### Vitale who I absolutely abhor. Sorry, but he is the first most nerve racking individual I have seen on TV. SAS comes in a CLOSE second. Jimmy Hart, the mouth of the south, comes in third. Yes, I watch wrestling too. LOL! Thanks for your comments!
By the way, LMAO at the Heinz 57 part of your ancestry!
Last edited by msproper on September 19th at 2:52 PM.
I won't mix words here. I have never liked this guy as a tv person. He has a grating personality, one which really isn't beomimg of a budding personality, not that he has one.
I have to say something about SAS as you call him. We were at the Mall of America last June. In the Mall of America there is an aquarium exhibit to walkthrough, with sharks and everything. For those of you that have been there you know which one I am talking about. I was with my cousin, back from Iraq, in a wheelchair after surgery for shrapnel removal. I was with he and his wife and children. He has his USMC scarlett and yellow tee shirt on and was looking at the sharks swimming over top. SAS was there, and across the walkway from us. My cousin said, "Aren't you on ESPN?" He said, "I am." My cousin then asked, "Could I trouble you for a photo op so my buddies in my unit will believe I met you?" He said in an arrogantly manner, "I am glad the military has brave soldiers to serve this country, but if I took time out for a picture for everyone that asked, then I wouldn't enjoy my time with my family, so no."
I was shocked, what a #### (you can delete this grunt, but he was a ####.) I said, "are you serious dude?" He looked and said (in the loud arrogant voice of his), "do I look like I am serious, do I look like I care what you think and do I look I could care about a photo pose for anyone?" I said, "you are a bigger #### in person then you are on TV." He rolled his eyes and started to walk away. My cousin said, "Stephen A. Smith, its a Marine, not a soldier." He turned and said, "Excuse me." My cousin said, "soldiers are in the Army, I am a Marine and you are a ########. And I could probably kick your #### while in this wheelchair." He walked away and said, "white trash." I said very loudly so everyone could hear, "And you are a son of a #### that is lower than the shark #### on the floor of this aquarium." He said, "If I were to lower my standards I would start by kicking your #### first, but you would sue me for the #### whipping." I walked towards him and the security got between us. As he walked away, I said, "Hey Stephen #### Smith, don't worry, I will sign the waiver."
He was a total ####. I understand the "celebrity status" of being on TV, but that doesn't entitle you to rudeness. He reminds me of the kid in gym class that everyone hates. And when the dodge ball game commenced we all agreed not to hit him until he was the last one left on the other team. Then, the gym teacher yelled, "free toss" and you could run as close to him and hit him to finish the game. Stephen A. Smith is a punk.
Badflatulence---Which further proves my point. "Quite Frankly" Stephen A. Smith is an embarassment to me and the rest of our race. Again, I can say that he is number one on the LOUD MOUTH #### list. It is very sad that he treated you and your family that way. I am former military myself. I was in the Air Force. I want to extend a warm Semper Fi to you.
Me, I sometimes wonder what qualifications it takes to get those jobs. Then, after you get that job, I guess it takes less to keep them. 90% of anyone else that spoke like he in a public forum would probably be fired because his views don't reflect the company that he works for. Someone must have made him his girlfriend for hire growing up. I like the dodge ball class analogy though.
gruntman, it is good to be back in the US. Not sure if you heard, but now Jesse Jackson said he is upset with th presidential candidate Obama for, "acting like a white." When can we stop stereotyping races? I am white, grew up on a farm, slopped pigs after my cheerleading practices (even as a senior and when I came home from college) because those were my chores. And now, I am a aviation navigator flying all over the world for a major airlines. Wow, but when I go home even today, I slop the hogs.
What everyone that is a skin color other then invisible needs to do is getting over using race, creed, color or religion as an excuse to justify insulting other races. Maybe we ALL should use it as pride and something to be used for an excuse.
SAS is dumb and doesn't need to be on a TV show or anything else. On the head about the higher I talk the more I am right. His views are the only ones correct and that is all that matters.
savannah---I agree with you, however, there are still a lot of things out there that are not visible to those who really aren't looking for it. Take for example, today is "Black Thursday" in honor of the six black young men who are currently incarcerated in Jena, Louisiana all for defending themselves against OVERT racial prejudice. I know that this is something that might not have made the news unless there were people who wanted it to get out. Well, I can tell you that it is out. There are hundreds of buses on their way to Jena to march on the courthouse because those young men have been unjustly incarcerated. It started when a group of white students hung a noose on an tree outside where the black students sit to eat lunch. Everything just went down hill from there. School officials dismissed it as a prank and did not even suspend the white students. Other events happened after that. This is just an example of things that are affecting many areas.
I try to be very objective about everything, but at the same time, I will not put blinders on to block out something that still does exist. I am a hard worker just like everyone else. I know that you are. I applaud you being able to fly. That was something that I always wanted to do, but my vision and my height kept me from doing so, or at least that is what the Air Force told me. I can honestly say that race had nothing to do with it.
Stephen A. Smith is one that makes a mockery of the wrong things. In my opinion, he should get a dose of reality from some "good ole boys" and maybe he will learn to shut his mouth.
Well put msproper. I hope this Jena thing doesn't end up sparking a race war or something stupid. With the Katrina pain that is still going on, Louisiana doesn't need this pain.
I forgot to put down, I agree with you also about the incarceration. I understand the tree was cut down now. That is like putting up a train warning signal after it crushes a bus. Wrong is wrong, right is right. What is truly sad is that in a country that is supposed to be the most wished lived in country and the land of opportunity, there is so much strife. Its a peaceful demonstration, but one ####, one instigator, one loudmouth will cause something to happen. I hope I end up with egg on my face, but we shall see. And I truly hope I am so wrong about Jena. I don't know if SAS needs some good ole boy treatment, but ESPN needs to jerk a knot in his #### and tighten his reins a bit.
msproper I totaly agree with you on everything you have said so far. I am from New Orleans and the Jena,la issue is news here. It's a shame and those kids need to be set free of the charges.What is really upseting is not only did the school do nothing but neither did the courts or police. To me that kid and the others who helped him put up those nooses should be charged with something along the lines of a hate crime and inciting a riot. It's a shame that in this day and age that things like racial issues are still going on. I'm glad I live in New Orleans where their is much diversity. I never seen or heard any racial problems in my lil part of this city. Do not get me wrong I know it happens I'm far from stupid but in my lil community it doesn't.
HRTx and Gambit--Thank you both for your comments. Gambit, how have things been in Louisiana since all of this broke? I know that there were a lot of people from Memphis who went down there. I am wearing all black today in support of those young men.
Katrina is still having devastating affects on everyone. Why muddy the already muddy waters by adding extremely unnecessary racial tension and strife? My husband made a really good point this morning. He said that it is a shame that we are having a what seems to be civil rights march in this day and age similar to the one that happened over 40 years ago. He said that it is also a shame that our children have to witness this debacle as well. This should be something that was and still is HISTORY.
America - The land of the free, but still the home of the "slave".
All -- Don't forget to check out my blog "And then there was Bill" posted on the Bill Belichick blog page. I would love to hear your comments on what I wrote. You all are so very insightful.
Retired military now with another Federal Government Agency. Are thankful to have served with many great soldier and will continue to have my
www.deadgrunt .com
military service site up and running, regardless of how many emails the DoD sends me asking me not to! I am a Michigan sports fan and Charles White did not cross the goal line in the Rose Bowl before he fumbled.
