re: Should Stephen Smith have been suspended by ESPN after Ray Rice comments?

This whole saga gets a big "MEH" from me.

I got what he was trying to say and it wasn't bad at all, just poorly-bordering-stupidly phrased (which happens sometimes when you're speaking off-the-cuff). If it were solely my call I wouldn't have done anything. I think it's stupid that anyone cares, honestly. That more people seem outraged about Smith's poorly-phrased commentary on Ray Rice's domestic violence against his wife than about the NFL openly not giving a shite about it is a terrible statement on our society.

On the other hand, in a market as voluntary as sports media, you get exactly what your actions indicate you want. No one needs to watch ESPN. A lot of people don't and are no worse off for lacking it. If this move brings in more viewers than they'd get with no action, I can't fault ESPN for doing it; they're just servicing ample demand for outrage.

It's the same as with clickbait sites like BuzzFeed or UpWorthy: I do my part in making them go away by not going to their websites, but I can't blame them for making big money off of idiots.

So... I view it as their right to do it. They're servicing a market and they own the means by which Smith is able to broadcast his opinion, so they have every right to take it away if they deem it necessary or best. But I don't view it as a free speech issue.