Stephen A. Smith Out at ESPN

[Aggie One]

www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2009/04/21/sports-analyst-stephen-a-smith-is-unemployed/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl5|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackvoices.com%2Fblogs%2F2009%2F04%2F21%2Fsports-analyst-stephen-a-smith-is-unemployed%2F

Sports Analyst Stephen A. Smith is Unemployed
Posted Apr 21st 2009 12:00PM by Quibian Salazar-Moreno
Filed under: Casually Obsessed, Sports

Stephen A. Smith is known for his brash and sometimes insensitive comments about athletes and professional sports in general. He made a name for himself as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, then as an ESPN analyst who landed his own show, 'Quite Frankly,' on ESPN2. Smith left the newspaper biz last year and now it looks like he'll be leaving ESPN next month. He confirmed that on May 1, he will no longer have a job with ESPN.

"It's been a wonderful, wonderful ride, filled with great accomplishments, great memories and, most importantly, great friendships," Smith said in a statement. "It's difficult to express how appreciative I am to ESPN for all it's done for my career. But nothing lasts forever. It's time to move on.

While my love for sports has never dissipated -- of course, I'll never let go of sports -- my desire to venture beyond sports into the world of news, politics and entertainment has grown. Where that will take me? Who knows! But I'm about to find out. I'll just do so with some degree of sadness, knowing all the friends I'll leave behind."

Smith has yet to announce what he'll do next, but we're sure we'll hear about it soon.

[aahhbigboy]

The writing was on the wall with this one. They took his radio show away from him last year and his appearances have been few and far in between. I think that at the end of the day, he was just too much. Too wordy, too brash, and too cocky. He'll fall forward though.

[treese]

Stephen A. Smith was great, I enjoyed him. Good Brother!

[trues]

I love the guy he told it like it was. Hell maybe he needs to go to TBS. If they can put up with Charles B. surely they can put up with his comments.

[aahhbigboy]

I met him at a Wizards game and dude is as cool and down the earth as anybody. He just can't pull ratings anymore for some reason. They took the TV show AND the radio show before releasing him all together.

[Aggie Monster]

My mama said "if you cant say something nice......."

but I dont always listen, so......I've never really cared for him one way or the other. Wont notice him gone at all. I'm sure he'll land on his feet, but if 2 shows are on at the same tim, Stephen A. Smith wont sway me toward the one he is on.

When your always expected to be ruff or harsh then its gets a little old. Then when your not your just boring.

[truthseeker]

he told bob lee on outside the lines that calipri was going to kentucy before anyone in the media knew...

like him or not... the man knew his stuff...!!!!

[aahhbigboy]

Him and Rod Strictland are ace boom.

[Aggie E]

Apr 23, 2009 12:05:49 GMT -5 trues said:

I love the guy he told it like it was. Hell maybe he needs to go to TBS. If they can put up with Charles B. surely they can put up with his comments.

I'm sure that Turner Sports would be strongly considering Stephen A as a replacement for Barkley, especially if he had anymore encounters with the law.

[aggiejazz]

Apr 24, 2009 7:32:27 GMT -5 Aggie E said:

Apr 23, 2009 12:05:49 GMT -5 trues said:

I love the guy he told it like it was. Hell maybe he needs to go to TBS. If they can put up with Charles B. surely they can put up with his comments.

I'm sure that Turner Sports would be strongly considering Stephen A as a replacement for Barkley, especially if he had anymore encounters with the law.

Turner Sports is not letting Barkley go. He's money for the network. Stephen A. done burned out already after 3 years. Barkley been around for 25 years and is still going strong.

[Aggie E]

Apr 24, 2009 7:38:58 GMT -5 aggiejazz said:

Apr 24, 2009 7:32:27 GMT -5 Aggie E said:

I'm sure that Turner Sports would be strongly considering Stephen A as a replacement for Barkley, especially if he had anymore encounters with the law.

Turner Sports is not letting Barkley go. He's money for the network. Stephen A. done burned out already after 3 years. Barkley been around for 25 years and is still going strong.

I agree Jazz...Barkley clearly drives the ratings for the TNT show, but you know how it is, if public opinion of Barkley shifts too negative......well, you know the rest! Barkley's biggest plus is that he actual played in the league, Stephen A can only speak of Bighouse Gaines and his CIAA experience.

[aggiejazz]

Apr 24, 2009 8:12:49 GMT -5 Aggie E said:

Apr 24, 2009 7:38:58 GMT -5 aggiejazz said:

Turner Sports is not letting Barkley go. He's money for the network. Stephen A. done burned out already after 3 years. Barkley been around for 25 years and is still going strong.

I agree Jazz...Barkley clearly drives the ratings for the TNT show, but you know how it is, if public opinion of Barkley shifts too negative......well, you know the rest! Barkley's biggest plus is that he actual played in the league, Stephen A can only speak of Bighouse Gaines and his CIAA experience.

E, here is a list of things Barkley has done:

beaten up white guys in bars;
was convicted of beating up a white guy;
spit on a white fan;
some of his spit hit a little white girl;
called white reporters racist names;
called Alabama whtes racists;
called a lot of white people racists;
married and divorced white women;
got pulled over for possible DUI;
told a white cop he was on way to have his way with a white women;
was convicted of a DUI;
spent time in jail last month.

Guess what 'E', Barkley is still popular with the TV audience, TV executives and media reporters. I only see one line he hasn't crossed and that's an OJ anger explosion that leaves someone dead other than that Barkley has great job security.

Stephen A. couldn't survive talking loud. The radio and TV soundmen are very happy. Talk about his 1990's CIAA experiences urgh!!