Stephen A. Smith Must Reel in His Straight Shooter Persona Before It’s Too Late

Stephen A. Smith labels himself a “straight shooter.” It’s the branding of his own production company and the SiriusXM radio show that he hosts on POTUS channel 124. Smith frames himself as a no-nonsense talent, giving you what he believes and why he believes it, no matter how you feel about it. His performance has led him to great riches and fame. He’s the face of ESPN, a potential presidential candidate, and one of the most recognizable entertainers in media.

At times, he even portrays himself as a solitaire ambassador.

Smith has never been shy about responding to critics. A simple search of “Stephen A. Smith fires back” reveals a long list of personalities who have become content for him. Many label him “Screamin’ A” for this very reason; he doesn’t know when to stop. If there was ever an example that should prompt Smith to reconsider this approach, it’s his latest target: former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Keith Olbermann.

For those too young to know who Keith Olbermann is, here’s a quick CliffsNotes version. Then again, are CliffsNotes still around?

Olbermann was an early ESPN anchor on SportsCenter from 1992 to 1997, with a brief pause in 1993 when he joined ESPN2. He was a poet of the medium, blending pop culture with sarcasm while presenting sports highlights in a way few ever had. The intelligence and skill set Olbermann displayed led him to prominent roles in cable news and additional stops across sports television outside of ESPN.

He is a three-time Edward R. Murrow Award winner and is widely regarded as one of the defining voices in ESPN’s history. Over his career, Olbermann had three separate stints with the network.

Over the past decade, Olbermann has largely drifted into obscurity, using social media to share political opinions and scattered thoughts on media. He has not held a network role since 2020, which marked his final tenure at ESPN hosting SportsCenter and calling MLB play-by-play.

Last week, Olbermann posted a critical message on social media calling for ESPN to fire Smith over his commentary surrounding the Minneapolis incident in which an ICE officer shot and killed a woman in her vehicle.

In the aftermath of 37-year-old Renee Good’s death, Olbermann said he was speaking for “a lot of people who actually built the place” when calling for Smith’s firing. The former SportsCenter anchor said Smith was “damaging the brand in a way his on-air cartoon character could never approach.”

Smith fired back by saying he was “sick of your pathetic ass.” The anger was unmistakable, with sweat beaming down his face. Smith admitted he had never said a negative word about Olbermann before, but he was done holding back.

Once again, the “straight shooter” was out of his holster.

From LeBron James to Michelle Beadle, Marcellus Wiley, and several others over the past year, Smith has shown little hesitation when challenged publicly. The man who has come to symbolize First Take always needs the last word.

The question is why.

Smith sits at the top of the mountain in sports media, and some would argue media in general. When you’re at that level, why continue to respond to those punching up? There is nothing to gain for someone who already possesses everything his critics want. Attention he has. Patience, however, appears to be fading.

When Smith took a break last July, he sent a clear message to his critics in his parting remarks.

“I kind of like being pissed off too. It makes me feel good,” said Smith. “I don’t believe I’ve told enough people to kiss my ass.”

Does that approach actually strengthen the Stephen A. Smith brand, or does it simply inflate the “straight shooter” ego he has built? In public work, criticism is unavoidable. How you respond to it defines you. I receive criticism for my work and have for more than twenty years.

Rather than barking back at individuals or outlets, I internalize the criticism and address it privately. The result is growth. I am better because of the motivation critics provide.

Smith’s public responses, however, reveal fragility. Is this about ego or clicks? Does calling Michelle Beadle’s attitude “evil” enhance Smith’s stature? Does labeling Marcellus Wiley a “hater” and a “liar” elevate his credibility? And does dismissing Keith Olbermann as a “pathetic ass” and referencing his “fat self” reflect positively on Smith or the brands tied to him?

Is any of this good for Stephen A. Smith, ESPN, SiriusXM, or anyone connected to him?

We live in a reactionary society and an attention economy. What Smith is doing with his reactions to critics is driving attention. It’s just business—or what society has chosen as content.

The downside is that Smith is exposing his insecurities in public view. His profile towers over many former ESPN colleagues now attempting to reclaim relevance. By engaging them, he grants access to a spotlight that is already his. Why allow those punching up to share your exposure? Isn’t staying on top about refusing to play at their level?

Smith’s future ambitions remain unclear, but his approach has stayed consistent. It has propelled him to heights few could imagine. His work ethic over two decades at ESPN is unquestionable. Still, as wealth, reach, and responsibility grow, one lesson becomes unavoidable: quality matters more than quantity.

Smith no longer needs to be the caricature critics mocked years ago. He is king of the castle until ESPN decides otherwise. Eventually, someone will eclipse what he has accomplished at the network he calls home. When that happens, will Smith be the one punching up?

Stephen A. Smith has reached heights few in media ever will. His voice is unmistakable. His reach is enormous. Yet the true measure of influence isn’t how loudly you respond to critics; it’s how effectively you shape the conversation on your own terms.

If Smith can balance his fire with focus, the “straight shooter” persona can evolve from reactive to revered. The next chapter isn’t about proving anyone wrong—it’s about proving himself right.

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John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.