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Stephen A. Smith went on a bigoted rant against Shohei Ohtani on First Take
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:49 pm
LINK
ETA:
Stephen A responds
LINK
quote:
Stephen A. Smith once again stared directly into the hot take machine like it was the sun and barfed out a take that even for First Take is pretty awful.
The topic of conversation on Monday’s First Take was Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels two-way star who spends some nights striking out batters and other nights bashing home runs. Smith and co-host Max Kellerman were discussing if Ohtani being baseball’s top attraction at the moment is good or bad for baseball (a stupid and loaded question, if ever there was one for First Take).
There are a few different directions this topic could go, even for someone who is merely a casual observer of baseball. One direction could be about how Ohtani is doing something only Babe Ruth has done, and another could be how baseball has yet another exciting young star who American fans can rally around as well as international fans.
Smith chose neither of those paths. Instead, he decided to talk about why Ohtani being baseball’s top attraction is a bad thing because his first language isn’t English.
“I don’t think it helps that the number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he’s saying,” Smith said on First Take.
Smith immediately caught heat for his tone-deaf comment.
ETA:
Stephen A responds
LINK
This post was edited on 7/12/21 at 2:23 pm
43
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:51 pm to RLDSC FAN
Looks like Stephen A is doing his job exactly as intended.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:51 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
Smith immediately caught heat for his tone-deaf comment.
Sounds like he's doing exactly what ESPN pays him millions to do. Tune in to the next show to see if he addresses his critics!
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:52 pm to RLDSC FAN
Luckily he’s black or he might have got in trouble for that
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:53 pm to RLDSC FAN
International players do seem to hide behind interpreters. I'm sure that is frustrating for reporters. They can speak to their teammates fine. But not to the press..
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:54 pm to RLDSC FAN
shite ESPN won't know which direction to turn here. They're in woke conflict anyway you go. What's the victim hierarchy here?
The black face of your network #AsianHates on a non-english speaking immigrant. Oof.
The black face of your network #AsianHates on a non-english speaking immigrant. Oof.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:54 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
“I don’t think it helps that the number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he’s saying,” Smith said on First Take.
I mean..I guess I'm the only one that doesn't think this is even remotely racist or a big deal.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:57 pm to RLDSC FAN
Kwame Brown finna eat
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:58 pm to RLDSC FAN
quote:
“I don’t think it helps that the number one face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he’s saying,” Smith said on First Take.
Might be the first and only time that I agree with SAS
Posted on 7/12/21 at 12:58 pm to brmark70816
quote:
International players do seem to hide behind interpreters. I'm sure that is frustrating for reporters. They can speak to their teammates fine. But not to the press..
I'd do the same thing. Media is scum and could easily "misinterpret" your words on purpose so they could have a spicier column.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:00 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
I mean..I guess I'm the only one that doesn't think this is even remotely racist or a big deal.
Its not racist. But that word doesnt even mean anything.
It is, however, dumb. In that, Ohtani speaks english fine.
Also, Mike Trout hasnt done shite for baseball viewership. Neither has Harper.
So the argument in general is shite.
Players arent going to save baseball. Things like Jomboy are what will do it.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:01 pm to RLDSC FAN
This is what Stephen A gets paid the big bucks to do. When it comes to giving an outrageous take that will get millions of views and clicks full of people complaining about the horrible takes presented.
There may be no one better that Stephen A.
There may be no one better that Stephen A.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:01 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
I mean..I guess I'm the only one that doesn't think this is even remotely racist or a big deal.
Its not racist or a big deal. But looking at twitter responses, they seem to be interpreting this much differently than I am though.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:02 pm to RLDSC FAN
SAS has always been a loudmouth dumbass. This tho, is inexcusable. What an asinine statement
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:03 pm to RLDSC FAN
I don’t think that’s a bad take. Baseball is most popular in the United States. It’s much more difficult to market a player who doesn’t even speak English.
That’s not bigoted, it’s just the truth from an MLB business standpoint.
I’m not saying I agree with him, but it’s not a silly or bigoted argument. It’s a fair take.
That’s not bigoted, it’s just the truth from an MLB business standpoint.
I’m not saying I agree with him, but it’s not a silly or bigoted argument. It’s a fair take.
This post was edited on 7/12/21 at 1:05 pm
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:03 pm to Hester Carries
quote:
It is, however, dumb. In that, Ohtani speaks english fine.
Also, Mike Trout hasnt done shite for baseball viewership. Neither has Harper.
So the argument in general is shite.
Yea, the argument is terrible.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:04 pm to brmark70816
quote:
International players do seem to hide behind interpreters. I'm sure that is frustrating for reporters. They can speak to their teammates fine. But not to the press..
Ed Orgeron ought to try that tactic.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:09 pm to RLDSC FAN
I mean I think it’s retarded when players refuse to speak the native language of where they play despite planning on, or having played here for years. However, I 100% understand why they do it.
The media here would have a field day with any kind of possible out of context answer and these are likely the same people crying about the comment.
The media here would have a field day with any kind of possible out of context answer and these are likely the same people crying about the comment.
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:10 pm to RLDSC FAN
That’s a heavily racist comment by today’s standards. Should be suspended or fired
Posted on 7/12/21 at 1:14 pm to The Pirate King
quote:
That’s a heavily racist comment by today’s standards. Should be suspended or fired
Per takes ive seen regarding similar comments, Stephen A, despite being one of ESPN’s highest paid personalities, can not be racist because he has never held cultural power within society.
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