Stephen A. Smith raised a few eyebrows on Thursday’s edition of First Take with how he responded to Michael Kay’s assertion that the Rangers would be the next New York team to win a championship.
“Oh Lord,” Smith said rolling his eyes. That was followed by Molly Qerim saying that the Rangers do not count and Smith saying that conversations on the show were reserved for “football, basketball, baseball.”
That lead to headlines suggesting that Stephen A. Smith had admitted ESPN doesn’t care about hockey.
After the show, he took to social media to tell everyone that he has no problem with the Rangers, the NHL, or the sport of hockey in general.
“Will ya calm down?” he asked. “I was having a good time, having fun. Gary Bettman is my friend. OK? Relax, y’all. Relax.”
Smith mentioned on First Take that he and Bettman are close. He thought that would be enough for everyone to admit that he was doing a bit.
He added that as a New Yorker, it should be pretty clear why he is more focused on the other team that plays in Madison Square Garden.
“I understand the Rangers are all that. They’ve got a championship since 1994,” Stephen A. Smith said. “It’s them damn Knicks that ain’t won since 1973! I’m sure you can understand why I’m aching for the Knicks a little more than the Rangers.”
