If you tuned in for First Take over the summer, chances are you didn’t see much of Stephen A. Smith. That changed on Monday as he returned to work after a lengthy recovery from shoulder surgery.
While he spent most of the day on a boat alongside Molly Qerim and Michael Irvin, Smith did receive his fair share of ribbing.
First Take producers lined up a series of celebrity messages welcoming Stephen A. Smith back to work. Among them was Nick Saban.
“I had my hip replaced and was back to work the next day,” the Alabama football coach said. “Now, they don’t make ‘em like they used to and some people just do anything to get a day off.”
Smith said that he could believe Saban returned to work a day after hip replacement surgery and that because Saban is the GOAT amongst college football coaches, Smith was willing to take the criticism.
The standout message came from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. He questioned the double standard of what fans knew about Stephen A. Smith versus what Stephen A. Smith expects to hear from Silver’s players, coaches and teams.
“I know that you and the media expect complete transparency when it comes to the NBA, particularly when it comes to injuries, but I get it. ‘Shoulder surgery.’ That’s all we’re told,” Silver said in a video. “Definitely a different standard when it comes to the media.”
Smith admitted that he enjoyed the video message from the Commissioner.
“Adam Silver got me good on that one,” he said. But the ESPN star did feel the need to defend himself and explain why it took him so long to come back.
“First of all, I was owed time off. Let’s be clear about that! Second off, excuse me. Cuff torn, bicep, labrum, plus a bone spur? I’ve been going through rehab four days a week on my vacation! I didn’t go away.”
