Last week, First Take did what First Take was designed to do. When Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim — in lockstep — argued that the NHL “doesn’t count” after Michael Kay said the New York Rangers were the next champion from the Big Apple, uproar rained down.
There seems to be an understanding of what First Take is and what Stephen A. Smith does: sports hot takery run amok. A show that thrives on preposterous, flamboyant, hyperbolic, 90-seconds-or-less soundbytes that ESPN television and radio hosts can use throughout the next 24 hours to start conversations that are thinly-veiled promos for the show, network, and Smith.
And yet, every couple of weeks, something on the show happens or is said that makes people drop their jaws and feign outrage.
“J.J. Reddick believes basketball is more physical now than in 1990s?! What an idiot!”
“Stephen A. Smith wouldn’t criticize Dana White for slapping his wife because ‘he’s a friend’? This is outrageous!”
“Why won’t Brian Windhorst just come out and say what’s going on? Why is he just pointing to the sky? ESPN doesn’t care about it’s viewers!”
Stop it. It’s exactly what the show wants and thrives on. You likely don’t care about any of the topics discussed on the show at any time throughout the week.
The selective outrage is disappointing. I’m a hockey fan. I love the sport, and I’ll die on the hill that it’s the best in-person event you can attend.
And do I care that the main cogs of First Take believe “hockey doesn’t count”? Hell no! Of course it doesn’t count to them. Hockey doesn’t count to the overwhelming majority of the audience. And that’s ok!
The idea that ESPN somehow pissed off the NHL by one of its hosting, in a throw away comment, saying the sport “doesn’t matter” is preposterous. And if Gary Bettman or anyone else inside the league office even so much as sent an email to ESPN about it, they should be ashamed of themselves.
The NHL’s fandom — or lack thereof — does not rest on what the opinion of the sport is from Molly Qerim or Stephen A. Smith. They are not going to gain or lose fans because of the opinion of either of them.
Furthermore, believing that Stephen A. Smith is the chief driver of sports discussion in America is a bigger issue. While he’s an divisive figure — and there’s no denying everything he says about the sports world or sports media is important — anyone who believes that Smith is a narrative shaper needs their head examined.
I hate to defend Stephen A. Smith, but his reaction to the blowback was correct and warranted. It was an innocuous comment, thrown out in a joking manner. The man admitted he doesn’t know enough about a topic to discuss it, and should be lauded for it, not torn down.
So relax. About Stephen A. Smith, about First Take, about everything. Not every comment is a slight. The faster more people learn that, the better.
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.
