Stephen A Smith made a career for himself in the sports entertainment history with his hot takes, that many fans of the sport will brand as outrageous.
The most recent controversy that grabbed headline was his comment that NASCAR drivers, alongside Golfers are no real athlete's. This didn't sit well with NBA legend Michael Jordan.
The Basketball champion, considered by many other than Smith to be the GOAT of the sport, is the co-owner of 23XI Racing. They field cars for three drivers including the current championship leader with five wins, Tyler Reddick and the sport's only black driver Bubba Wallace. The comment that his drivers are not athletes was offensive for the veteran.
Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio the broadcaster claimed that Michael Jordan called him personally to share dissatisfaction with the comments. He highlighted how he argued with the sport icon and doubled down on his take by declaring he still feel the same, while also asserting that he is entitled to have his opinion.
You know who wanted to correct me about the NASCAR thing? Michael Jordan. I argued with him! Because that's how I feel! I'm being honest. That's how I feel. It's not a crime. That's what makes radio and sports talk.
Stephen A Smith told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (As reported by AwfullAnnouncing.com)Further talking about the point, he defended himself by claiming he is an outlier among the different sport analysts in the world. Stephen A Smith, 'supposedly' often refuse to have the gang mentality and speaks his mind, instead of agreeing with the popular take. This becomes a problem when everything he says is at odds with the real experts of the sport.
Don't you notice what we call the gang mentality? Where everybody in my line of work jumps on popular opinion so they are lumped in with the vast majority of people who feel the way they feel? That's easy. The hard part is, 'this is where I stand, and I genuinely feel this way, and here's why.'
On his podcast, Happy Hour, 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick addressed the comments from the veteran TV personality. He pointed out that it is better Smith doesn't talk much about racing considering he has close to no understanding of the sport up-close. The ex-SHR driver also called out the personal for chasing clicks.
If you don't know anything about racing, just keep your opinion to yourself because you shouldn't even have an opinion if you don't know anything about a sport…I think this is just an instance where Stephen A. Smith is looking for clicks on something he knows absolutely nothing about what he's talking about.
Kevin Harvick said.The NASCAR insiders are right to call out the entertainer for the outrageous take. These comments where the product of the limited understanding Smith has about stock car racing and the fact that the hot takes are part of his brad. The beef isn't going to end anytime soon as both sides won't back down from the stance.
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