Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith lashed out at ESPN on Monday for recently letting go of more than 20 of its top TV personalities. He then shocked viewers by saying the network could fire him next.
Smith, 55, used his YouTube platform, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” to send a heartfelt message to Jalen Rose, Jeff Van Gundy and Keyshawn Johnson, three of the released talents. SAS then dropped a truth bomb.
Stephen A. Smith’s theory about why the Boston Celtics didn’t fire Ime Udoka
“This ain’t the end,” Smith said Monday on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” “More is coming. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, I could be next.
“Let me tell you all something. Don’t ever, ever, ever in your life as a Black person take anything for granted. I told you before, when white folks catch a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia.”
Smith admitted that ESPN‘s parent company, Disney, gave a heads up months earlier of incoming massive layoffs, but he still believes his former co-workers deserved better.
SAS even shows love to Max Kellerman
Smith didn’t want to mention everyone who left ESPN in fear of missing someone, but SAS did have time to show some love to Max Kellerman, who he doesn’t exactly like.
“I’m even gonna miss Max Kellerman,” Smith said. “I know y’all thought I wouldn’t. I am not happy that he is gone. We all know what history we had. We all know what happened with he and I parting ways on ‘First Take.’ I don’t want the brother unemployed. I want him gainfully employed. I want him having a job and a career.
“And that brother knows his boxing inside and out, is smart as a whip, and has been around a long time. I wish him no ill will. And, matter of fact, although I sincerely doubt he ever will, if he ever called me needing my help, I would not hesitate to help him.”
If Smith is in fact the next talent to get cut, then maybe Shaquille O’Neal was right to suggest Brian Windhorst is the only “untouchable” at ESPN.
