Jason Fitz worked for ESPN from 2018 to 2023 in the same hallways of the Bristol, CT campus that many other network commentators did. One of those commentators was First Take co-host Stephen A. Smith, whom Fitz took notice of following Smith’s comments Tuesday about why, in his opinion, NBA players don’t want to play for the Memphis Grizzlies. After guest analyst Markieff Morris asked Smith why he thought players preferred to avoid the city, Smith responded by saying players have told him it’s not the safest environment and that local authorities need to “clean some of that stuff up.”
Subsequently, Fitz—who now works for Yahoo Sports and FOX Sports Radio—joined 92.9 ESPN in Memphis on Tuesday to address the comments made by Smith. During the interview, he told Jason & John that his former ESPN colleague lives in stereotypes.
“What the hell does Stephen A. know about the city of Memphis? The answer to that is only what his friends or his people on his phone, tweet him or text him. That’s all he knows. He is so separated from actual reality. What does he know,” said Fitz on 92.9 ESPN.
Importantly, the former ESPN host—who lived in Tennessee for over two decades—referenced how people like Smith, who have never been to certain areas of the country, often base their opinions on stereotypes rooted in a narrow view of one particular section of a city. Fitz claimed that’s exactly what Stephen A. Smith did Tuesday on First Take.
“Stephen A. walks and talks and lives and eats and breathes stereotypes. That’s all he knows,” said Fitz. “How many times has he ever even been to Memphis, talking about Memphis, based on little perspective to Memphis, and he’s talking about Memphis basketball. Frankly, he has to talk about the city of Memphis, because my guy hasn’t watched a single Memphis basketball game in probably three years. Stephen A. has a staff and info group that feeds him information so that he can have somewhat informed opinions, and they’re usually not because he works too hard to actually watch any games.”
Furthermore, Fitz referenced the final day of the previous Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN Radio, in which Fitz sat in studio with Smith for the launch of First Take, Last Take. He recalled how Smith told him to get out of radio because there was no money in it.
“We sat in the studio together, and I looked at him. I was like, ‘Stephen A. It’s such an honor to get to take this time slot and this show. I really appreciate it.’ He looked at me and said, ‘Get out of radio. There’s no money in it, and if there’s no money in something there’s no reason to do it,’” explained Fitz.
Now, Fitz pointed out the irony that Stephen A. has just announced a new radio show. According to Fitz, this reveals Smith’s true motivations.
“So what does that tell you? It tells you that he doesn’t care about the work, he doesn’t care about the process. He cares about the cash, and he will always make the cash because people flock to him. I just got to be honest with you. Yesterday’s toilet paper is more useful when it comes to having an actual opinion about Memphis than Stephen A. Smith’s.”
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