One does not simply poke the bear and hope he dances with you! Get ready to get roared on if you barked first. The following case unfolds a match without a field between two titans.
When those heavyweights happen to be Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s not just a storm in a teacup. But what exactly transpired to set off this high-octane exchange of words?
Imagine a boxing ring: two of the most outspoken figures in sports journalism, each with a distinct style and a reputation for never pulling punches. On one corner, we have Stephen A. Smith, a name synonymous with passionate, fiery commentary.
On the other hand, Jason Whitlock is no stranger to controversy and bold statements. When these two forces collide, you know it will be more than just a war of words.
“Stephen A. Smith is the Kevin Hart of sports media. Smith is a plant. Disney and ESPN installed Smith at the top of the sports media world because of his inadequacies as a journalist made him easy to control.” These were the scathing words Jason Whitlock carefully chose in his critique of Stephen A. Smith, igniting a firestorm in the sports media landscape.
On January 11, 2024, Smith, the machine gun mouth, not only clapped back but took the internet by storm with his rant against Whitclock.
The Ping-Pong of Words: What’s Really Going On Between Smith And Whitlock?
This clash isn’t just about one comment or moment; it’s a culmination of a long-brewing tension between two men at the pinnacle of sports journalism. Whitlock didn’t stop at questioning Smith’s journalistic integrity. He went on to mock Smith’s brief basketball career, asking rhetorically, “How do you average 1.5 points per game in one game? Is there a 1.5-pointer in Division II basketball?”
Whitlock went full throttle on his nemesis (we like to keep it dramatic). He said on the “Fearless With Jason Whitlock” show–
“It’s comical how little he actually knows about sports, but someone installed him as the No. 1 voice of sports,”
“That’s what Katt Williams is talking about. Kevin Hart is an OK comedian. Someone installed him as the face of comedy, and gave him a deal and put things in place for him to have all the success because they can control Kevin Hart. That’s what happened to Stephen A. Smith. If you go read Straight Shooter, you can see it everywhere.”
“If you go read his memoir and listen to the stories he tells about getting a “basketball” scholarship to Winston-Salem State, it’s so mind-blowingly preposterous, and stupid, and fabricated.”
So, as we are clear here, Whitlock poked in three significant points–
- Insulting Smith’s knowledge of sports as a sports analyst.
- Calling out Smith for being an ‘industry baby.’
- Deeming Smith’s memoir is fake.
Boy! That was some daredevil stunt Whitlock pulled here. Can you sense the chilling silence before the storm?
So, as I crack all my knuckles, here’s how Mr. Stephen A. Smith responded–
“Jason Whitlock, I said that name,”
“It’s not a name I’ve uttered. I normally don’t do that, but it’s necessary to do now. I’ve had enough of that fat bastard, that piece of s—. And I want to make sure that before I go to break, I want anyone out there who watches me, anyone out there who knows me. Anyone out there, no matter what you think of me, I want you to remember I never talk about him. I never talk about my colleagues. I don’t do that. This is a first. But it’s necessary.”
Stephen Smith hits with the first sucker punch.
“Did you tell them that once the same article in Deadspin came out, weeks later you wrote a lengthy apology to me in an email?” Smith said. “Begging me to forgive you? Pointing out how you were betrayed by this particular writer, so you know how I must feel that you betrayed me. Did you tell the folks that, you b—h. Did you tell ’em, you fat piece of s—. Did you tell them that?”
Then, Smith held Whitlock in a headlock–
“Don’t ever call me about him again,” he said. “I’m a very forgiving person – not with him. …I hate this bastard far more than a little bit. He is the worst human being any of you will ever meet. You get within a mile of his presence, wrap your arms around yourself to protect your soul. He is Cain. He is a devil. The worst. That’s all I have to say.”
Smith’s response was equally fiery. Not one to back down, he launched into a no-holds-barred retort on his show with Shanon Sharpe, defending his memoir and career while taking personal jabs at Whitlock.
He questioned Whitlock’s credibility and accused him of jealousy. But is this just a personal vendetta, or is there more to this story?
In dissecting their words, we see two men fiercely protective of their legacies, each believing firmly in their path and perspective.
But at what cost does this battle come? Is this feud overshadowing the real issues in sports journalism? However, the million-dollar question remains: whose side are you on?
Share your thoughts, and let’s delve deeper into this intriguing world of sports media.
Recent Comments