Stephen A. Smith was caught on camera during the weekend playing a quiet game of solitaire during the action on the court of the NBA Finals. The pictures and videos from the incident lit up social media and became another talking point for some in sports media regarding how Smith goes about his job for ESPN since signing his recent multi-year agreement with the network.
In response to the viral moment, Smith made a guest appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Eddie Johnson and Justin Termine and was asked about the moment in which he was caught playing the card game.
“I was doing what the hell I always do,” Smith said. “And for those out there who don’t like it, kiss my a**.”
Furthermore, the ESPN commentator explained that he can multitask between watching the action on the court and finding time for a brief break on his phone. Smith’s response to the backlash he’s received from social media was to simply point out he is still paying attention to what’s going on the court but will take a break from time to time like anyone.
“Somebody is standing over me, upper deck, zooming in on my phone, watching me, and saying, ‘Oh, he’s playing Solitaire. He’s not focusing on the game.’ I watch over 100 games a year,” said Smith.
Moreover, Smith did not shy away from naming the card game as his go-to during work and while watching games on the court.
“I’m sitting there and getting a little break, and I decide to play a little Solitaire, which, by the way, I always do,” said Smith. “If it’s halftime, I might go on my phone for two minutes and play Solitaire. At the end of the game, before the game, I do the same thing. Damnit, if you have had a little break in between, I might’ve been playing it again because I like the game.”
Interestingly, the NBA Countdown host said he won the game that was featured in the viral photos and videos. Smith said he was surprised by the reaction to a game of solitaire being such a big deal compared to anything else it could have been. However, he made no apologies for his actions.
“I work too damn hard, too long, too many hours to be worried about what people think I’m doing for 30 seconds,” noted Smith. “They can kiss off. I am not worried about it. That’s what I do. I do what I do.”
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