Stephen A. Smith is fed up with Curt Schilling taking shots at him, and ESPN. The former Pitcher has been speaking out over the past few weeks about the television network’s liberal agenda, and support of racist personalities. One specific commentary Schilling took exception to was Smith’s opinions on RG3’s issues with the Washington Redskins.
After staying silent the past few weeks, Smith had enough. Today he unleashed a verbal tirade against the former pitcher during his radio show on SiriusXM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio”.
“I can’t stand people who worked for ESPN that depart from ESPN clearly harboring whatever bitterness they harbor and try to throw talent under the bus — like talent has something to do with them being gone,” Smith said. “I have nothing to do with it.”
“Let me speak up on behalf of ESPN when I say this to Curt Schilling: You are gone not because you have conservative views instead of liberal views. Your ass is gone because you did not want to listen,” Smith continued. “ESPN tells me to shut-up, they’re my employer whether I like it or not. If I want to keep my job, I’ve got to shut the hell up.”
“You want to sit here and have a debate about what really went on?” asked Smith. “Name the time and place and I’ll show up, with the permission of ESPN — of course. I guess listening to my boss makes me a bad guy. Well guess what? I’d rather be bad than stupid.”
In response to his previous comments on Griffin, and the Redskins, Smith sought to clear the air.
“What I was lamenting was the treatment of Jay Gruden and how specific he was in dissecting Robert Griffin III, compared to how celebratory he was about Kirk Cousins,” said Smith. “At no time did I imply or state that RGIII wasn’t playing because he is black. That is a lie.”
When asked by the New York Daily News if his comments were aimed towards all personalities who have departed ESPN and continued to take shots, Smith was very specific in who they were meant for.
“My comments were strictly about Schilling,” Smith said via email. “No one else.”
It’s highly unlikely that ESPN would sanction a faceoff between one of their top stars, and one of their most outspoken former employees. But if they ever wanted to generate a must-watch television program, this one has all the ingredients media companies look for. Just don’t expect Schilling to be a First Take candidate anytime soon.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
