It was almost a comically embarrassing week for sports media members last week. Between Shannon Sharpe, Tony Dungy, and the hosts of GBag Nation on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, there was an almost constant feeling of “who’s going to say or do something stupid next?”
Sharpe went viral on Friday night after causing a scene during the Los Angeles Lakers/Memphis Grizzlies game. Things are still somewhat cloudy, but what the situation boils down to is Sharpe’s previous comments about the Grizzlies. Memphis forward Dillon Brooks took offense to comments Sharpe made, told him to shut up, and Sharpe responded like any rational, logical, emotionally mature adult would – shouting across an NBA court that Brooks should come over and say the words to his face.
Frankly, it was an embarrassment. Not just for Sharpe, but his show, FOX Sports, the Lakers, the Grizzlies, the Crypto.com Arena staff, and virtually everyone involved. The fact that Sharpe was able to return to his seat for the duration of the game might be the biggest embarrassment, but that’s a different discussion.
It’s been quite a few weeks for Sharpe. He skipped out – pun not intended – on his FS1 show Undisputed the day following an idiotic tweet from Skip Bayless, and then went viral after he did show up the following Wednesday and lost his temper with his co-host in the show’s opening segment.
But Sharpe’s comment on what transpired Friday was just flat-out stupid. I understand being caught up in the heat of the moment, but Sharpe’s statement to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin was outlandishly dumb.
“They didn’t want this smoke, Dave. They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain’t about that jockeying,” Sharpe said before explaining what launched the altercation between him and Brooks. He then explained that Ja Morant, and his father – Tee – entered the conversation. According to Sharpe the two of them “didn’t want these problems” but the FS1 host “wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”
Completely disregard the fact that Sharpe looked like he raided his grandma’s closet after donning a knit cardigan while shouting about how he was prepared to kick someone’s ass – what person in the right mind handles a situation in that manner? What in the actual hell is going on with Shannon Sharpe? Has anyone asked? Does anyone care? It’s just such a puzzling interaction, with the biggest cynic among us being able to validly question whether it was simply a ploy to garner more attention for his show and career.
Depending on which video you watched, the Twitter video of the incident garnered hundreds of thousands of views, far eclipsing the daily viewership of Undisputed. Was this simply a well-calculated move by Sharpe to interject his name – and by proxy his television show – into the limelight? Or was he really, actually, truthfully prepared to throw his career away because a player who felt disrespected by his punditry had the audacity to shout the f-word at him from 100 feet away?
Someone I look up to in this industry once gave me one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever absorbed: “At some point, you’re gonna say some dumb shit. How you respond to the reaction to it is what people will remember.”
And it couldn’t be more true. No one is going to remember that Sharpe said Dillon Brooks couldn’t guard Lebron James – who was held to 23 points, below his season average – but they’ll definitely remember how he reacted to being called out and doubled down by creating a scene in front of nearly 19,000 people.
Also putting their foot in the mouth last week was NBC Sports NFL analyst Tony Dungy. The former Super Bowl-winning coach tweeted a false and idiotic statement in opposition of a political candidate because “the kids these days are identifying as cats and schools have to put litterboxes in restrooms because of the woke mob” or whatever bullshit he was spouting.
Quick sidebar, not just for Tony Dungy but for anyone else this gullible: If you honestly believe that there are litterboxes in schools because kids are identifying as cats, you are a certifiable moron. Every person above the age of 14 has a cell phone in their pocket that can record 4K video or take a 12-megapixel photo. Have you seen any video or photo evidence of this happening? No, you haven’t. Do you know why? Because it isn’t happening!
So, Dungy got dragged on social media for tweeting something stupid, cruel, and ignorant. I’m not going to comment on his subsequent comments comparing Damar Hamlin’s collapse on Monday Night Football to why abortion should be outlawed — because nobody wins there — but nonetheless, he had a rough week.
The NBC Sports analyst – in stark contrast to Sharpe – broke his silence after being defended by media grifters because he was supposedly being canceled for his beliefs, by apologizing. He admitted he was wrong, and said: “As a Christian, I should speak in love and in aways that are caring and helpful. I failed to do that and I am deeply sorry”. Bam. Done. Controversy? Over. Squashed.
It’s that simple. When you screw something up, say you got it wrong and you’re sorry. It’s not “bowing to the woke mob” or whatever culture war comments someone wants to use to get the worst person you know riled up. It’s being an adult. I can disagree with him on his statements, his thoughts, feelings, actions, etc… but Dungy – who has often been the human embodiment of grace, humility, and class – displayed grace, humility, and class at a time when it would have been easy to show anger, bitterness, and hatred.
Unfortunately, Shannon Sharpe didn’t display those qualities. But he — and anyone involved in Friday’s altercation — would have benefited if he had.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
