Stephen A. addresses his comments on Shohei Ohtani and the Nigerian basketball team | First Take

[@nickross656]

“ learn English” “I have Asian friends” This guy literally says every stereotypical racist thing

[@diatribeeverything]

Don't forget "Luka doesn't have that dawg in him."

[@tylerfielding5311]

Wow you’re so corrupt

[@nickross656]

@@tylerfielding5311 how

[@tylerfielding5311]

@@nickross656 It’s literally not even racist. He didn’t even say “Learn English” to Shohei nor did he say he had to at all. And “I have Asian American friends” was in reference to him saying that he had Asian American friends who told him they were offended. People like you just get on here and twist it however you want it to be and then blast him for saying something he never said.

[@nickross656]

@@tylerfielding5311 I didn't twist anything he put him down for not being able to speak English well and then followed that up with I'm not racist I know Asian people. Which is what racist people do they put people from other countries down for not speaking the language well and to defend that they say hey I'm friends with insert group. Also don't act like it was either apologize or you're fired

[@MindfulAttraction]

These ESPN folks apologizing left and right for utter hypocrisy 😂

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > belichick

[@nash3577]

They never think before they speak

[@xlortiz]

Woke EAT their own! haha boycott espn

[@xlortiz]

He's a FRAUD!! garbage

[@thai2go]

@@xlortiz there is nothing to do about being woke bud. go somewhere else with your agenda

[@kellyburnett6220]

He starts his apology with "I'm a black man" lol what a joke

[@wolfthaman241]

Your a joke

[@mdm767]

Is he not a black man?

[@TheSwellow11]

She clearly ignored the part where he said he brings that up because he ALSO needs to be held accountable. Thirsty af.

[@marcusaurelius652]

He’s a clown

[@josh_7569]

Kelly, you're right!

[@joonpak]

Max: Not only is SAS not racist, he’s an anti-racist. SAS: Here’s where you’re wrong, Max.

[@Berrytenor]

Crying lmfao

[@everythingmanny]

😭😭😭😭

[@FOH45]

he's not racist, just talls too much. .... insulted the Nigerian team too

[@bongwater7908]

dont forget he gets all of that

[@Shiftin360]

underrated comment

[@haileebleachgeass]

Shohei Ohtani’s English is better than Stephen A.’s Japanese, so there’s that.

[@Spc_Garza]

Best comment ever

[@desirebosses627]

Someone build a shrine for this man

[@Sam-db4mr]

Ummm last time I checked, Stephen A doesn’t live in Japan or in a country where Japanese is spoken by more than 1% of the population 🤔

[@levigriffin1247]

@@Sam-db4mr take a joke bud

[@Sam-db4mr]

@@levigriffin1247 that comment wasn’t just a joke. And as the saying goes “a lot of truth is said in jest”

[@DavidYangMusic]

Lets not forget that stephen a smith more then once openly mocked manny pacquiao and the way he speaks… on top of showing little to no respect for the fact that manny is a senator. Talks about manny like hes a little funny asian guy…. Sorry stephen a. We cant forget the fact that you ridiculed people like jeremy lin when linsanity was happening as well as mocking other people who cant speak english well… 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ Btw way we KNOW youre black. Thats what makes it more disappointing. To think we are all minorities and you sometimes cant even respect your own let alone others.

[@chancecollins9981]

Okay bro. What about you in your personal life. The wrongs you've done. Grow up and realize we make mistakes and have apologies for these very reasons.

[@junior-corradosoprano9435]

SAS attacked Jeremy lin steve nash and Kwame brown. That is not a mistake. It's a pattern of racial disrespect and fakeness. Great comment btw liked ur point of view on this.

[@jaylav2373]

Its not about race he critiques everyone, remember how bad the critique was when Josh Gordon couldnt stay off the "WEEEDDD"...But I hear you and he definitely needed to apologize. In his position he needs be intentional with his words

[@alexguyson129]

@@chancecollins9981 youre right . however its a pattern of racial disrespectful behavior to other minority races. all mistakes but if we look at context stephen a smith should overall be better then this especially when it comes to racial issues. love stephen A. but he dont get a pass because he'd crucify anyone else who would say such a thing

[@JoeSmithGOAT]

Homie spittin' FACTS

[@Primo_Kpodo]

He’s a lil bit arrogant in his apology, espn gave him too much power

[@ouzi9122]

Right ? So it wasn't just me, felt like he was talking down to us lol

[@LonghornsLegend]

He makes 12m a year his arrogance is through the roof he doubled down on his comments the day later without an apology

[@LonghornsLegend]

@lazyboy97 o he definitely has power he says and gets away with things nobody else would. U think anybody else can randomly say hiring steve nash is white privelage without ramifications? Of course they'll fire him if it's a big enough backlash but his power is why he says some of this nonsense anyway

[@LonghornsLegend]

@lazyboy97 if u dont think sas has power to do certain things at 12m a year then u just aren't paying attention

[@paulmurphy8993]

Major league baseball is a joke. The ratings are awful, it's not attracting young fans, the game is too slow and it's not even played in black communities. And yes, it's number one star does not speak English!! That's a problem. Period...hard stop. Stephen A. may have been a little heavy handed with Ohtani but he spoke to a bigger truth. MLB is doing a TERRIBLE job marketing this sport. That is what I think Stephen A. was trying to address. Oh, and Jeff Passan knows this himself but can't bring himself to honestly address this cultural shift happening at the present time because his entire career is in jeopardy.

[@TestTest-ei4gi]

“I’m a black man, I can’t be racist.” - Stephen A Smith

[@sillygoose635]

@Googled um nah.

[@FranciscoRodriguez-vx9ro]

@@sillygoose635no it’s true. Black People are the most racist people in the world

[@alexhwang3109]

​@@sillygoose635actually yes, black people are hella racist against asians this is facts

[@howisthatgay4275]

Ah the “I’m black guys, how can I be racist?” classic. Never misses

[@thesportsguy126]

More blacks are racist.

[@soulsearchingsince9523]

@@thesportsguy126 “blacks”

[@4kdre706]

@@thesportsguy126 that’s a ignorant assumption, black people have racist, white people have racist, Mexican’s have racist etc. All races have racist people and that’s unfortunate but putting a label on an entire race because of one idiot is racist(thats not me calling you racist btw)

[@willemdafuck]

@@4kdre706 Which race is the only race in this country that's not allowed to be racist?

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

@@willemdafuck Zero. As evidenced by the fact Stephen A is getting destroyed for what he said.

[@KazzyOfficial]

Don't apologize because of its impact on people. Apologize because it was wrong.

[@JMaine518]

He literally said he was wrong. Try listening next time.

[@giganticomega6821]

He said he was wrong.

[@stocksguy4565]

There goes the grape soda defending him

[@ericlange40]

Don't worry he won't he will blame it on the white man

[@terrellavery9]

In his defense he said that too

[@loganstokes2211]

Being black doesn’t make you not racist

[@jrsmith1998]

Yes it does

[@baselineslayer]

Stephen A Smith still believes Ohtani is bad for baseball, and that’s why we shouldn’t take the apology seriously.

[@AngryRantman]

English is just a language.... In sports talent and perfomance is the actual language.... Messi doesn't speak English still he is global superstar.... Judge athletes on the basis of perfomance not from where they come from or how they speak

[@PandaDonG]

American sports commentators live in such a bubble, they automatically devalue anything outside of American athletes or American sports

[@maxmx767]

Facts

[@theonlygus]

@@PandaDonG absolute FACT

[@MrDukey85]

Messi can speak english tbf but he chooses not speak to the english speaking media because they often misinturpreted but it don't matter because is performances speaks for him

[@cayetano6547]

but he is the face of the Spanish league lol...

[@cameronsamuels9139]

Imagine if SAS woulda said “having said all that” after he apologized 😭💀

[@AlexanderTh3First]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ryanelliott8333]

😭😭😭😭😭😭 omgosh

[@Wolf-dw1vr]

nah this is too funny

[@Mista.Sir.]

Lmaoooooo

[@rachiimmcfarlane]

Lmao crying 😂😂😂

[@hottopics3287]

"I love Nigerian athletes, like francis ngannou." (Francis being from Cameroon 🇨🇲) 😂😂

[@pomme_paille]

True lol

[@NorCaLove1]

He represents Nigeria. Like Israel Adesanya

[@oluwaseunbamikole9871]

What an idiot

[@x-x101]

@@NorCaLove1 lol, a quick Google search should make you want to delete this.

[@hydradominatus3641]

Yikes

[@zeng7718]

“Im Black, I stand up against racism everytime” ...... *continues to be racist*

[@antoniojones3591]

Haven’t even watched yet but I already know Stephen A Smith is going to talk about how he is black.

[@whyareyoureadingthiis886]

first line of his monologue 😂😂😂

[@GildedWarrior331]

Facts .he started " I am a black man " 😭😂

[@potawatomimko6108]

Toooo true

[@solomonyasharahla8603]

You watched it

[@YungChief]

Yep. 1st thing he bought up

[@dvdmoreno2010]

He's always starts his apologies with reminding us he is a black man. Lol

[@leoblazer74]

@@brandongipson9552 First of all, I am a human.... LOL

[@Bodhi594]

@@brandongipson9552 It's true 😂

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > belichick

[@boom8250]

@@brandongipson9552 shhhhhh racist

[@willycollins7969]

if you have to remind people that you are black, it means you are OREO COOKIE

[@alexbrufladt171]

I sware Stephen A Smith is the most racist sports analysis I've ever seen

[@manofiske3318]

"sware" ?

[@alladinalmonzo1311]

Don’t do that

[@swishersweets787]

Now that's a stretch

[@Spidervenom23]

nah. Stephen A might be a idiot at times but he's not racist. Whitlock on the other hand is racist against everyone but the White Male lol.

[@sillygoose635]

@@Spidervenom23 exactly

[@jenevieaboubakare1780]

Did he just subtly use the “I have Asian friends” excuse? LOL

[@MrSmashmouth07]

Yeah he did

[@lovetolaugh1453]

Yep, he said it. This “go to” statement transcends cultures. All you have to do is change the race. Sad but true.

[@kesayo]

Yeah, people who do that are racist. I would never refer to my friends as my [insert race] friends. They are just my friends. I don't even notice of care about the race of my friends.

[@davejones8922]

No he didn't. The Asian friends part was exactly about his Asian friends letting him know how hurtful his comments were. He didn't go to the "I have Asian friends so I'm not a rac**t." typically used exactly by those that are.

[@eldietab]

Jeff Passan is 100% correct. Stephen A. would be a little more believable if he didn't already have a track record.

[@ChrisSmith-tu9bu]

I mean its like everyday now....they need to either get rid of this dude or give him some ultimatums... America is tired of racism generally and as a black man he should know better

[@Mr360Gman]

Where did Jeff say that?

[@giganticomega6821]

@BidentheChildmolester Loveswelfarevoters Except he was dissing nigerian players recently who are black. So no he isn't racist. He just can be idiot sometimes.

[@gcho2461]

He's said very similar things about Manny Pacquiao and Jeremy Lin in the past. This isn't an isolated incident.

[@marklo6283]

Max: SAS is Anti- Racist Sas: You're Wrong heres why

[@budhamsaranamgachhami3670]

😂🤣😂

[@michaelharris9805]

Stephen " I am a black man so i cant be racist" Smith

[@whatssogoodaboutindy6696]

LMAO

[@bonginkosinkosi8546]

I came here 'cause I knew this would be here and I would laugh about it 😂

[@MattTheDreamer7199]

Aye yo, LMAO.

[@GeirGunnarss]

Like they said on Pat McAfees show “The language that we all know and love is 100MPH fastballs and 450 foot bombs.” That's a language Ohtani speaks fluently. No one cares what he says outside the ballpark but he speaks volumes on the diamond.

[@harryskywalker6814]

“Put the camera on me please” is the most SAS thing ever said.

[@recruitufilms2198]

SAS’s track record speaks for itself: Hated on Yao Hated on Manny Hated on Linsanity Hated on Shohei He’s “sorry” for saying what he said… but does it really change the fact that he still believes in what he said about Shohei and all of the other past comments about Asian athletes?

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

He also hates on dozens of black athletes as well. I wouldn't make this that racial. Stephen A is just a hater who gets paid to get dramatic on TV. Its nothing more technical than that.

[@diatribeeverything]

Don't forget about Luka

[@wn3723]

Amen! And he loved steroid using McGwire as the face!

[@anfzjdxn]

jokic also

[@Datguy18]

Porzingis as well

[@TheBoombooman]

Lol SAS went for the “I have a lot Asian friends” line 😂😂😂

[@Bearedd]

Classic…

[@squalman8567]

Ya but when a white guy says "I have black friends" we are racist and making excuses

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > belichick

[@btran213]

@@squalman8567 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@speediepitstop1531]

@@squalman8567 double standard front and center

[@clarencemiller5043]

He was informed by his bosses that his bag was jeopardized. He knew he screwed up. Offending the Asian community was stupid. He made sure he said that it wasn't his company's fault or Disney's fault. He tries to cover his tracks whenever he disrespects athletes. How many more apologies do we have to endure before he is canceled.

[@ChineseFentanyl]

I don’t believe Stephen a when he says “I am a black man”

[@neng2572]

This isn't the first time Stephen A. Smith has hated on asian athletes. During Linsanity he never wanted to give Jeremy Lin any credit when Lin was playing for HIS Knicks. The Knicks were pretty irrelevant at the time too. I mean he was even a Manny Pacquiao hater too. He only changed his demeanor towards him after getting Pacquiao on first take.

[@alexgarcia-kg1ob]

Hes a lowkey racist g

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

This is a super weak take. Stephen A also makes fun of black athletes as well and even did it on this exact segments. The guy isn't racist he's just xenophobic and ignorant.

[@nadecha5326]

He doesn’t favor any Asians in any sport

[@viltheegr8334]

Who cares

[@Atribecalledsuccess]

@@nadecha5326 yeah cause they’re not talented enough

[@Ecko_KaiRo]

Jeff Passan just straight LIT UP Stephen A. Smith. Get that smoke.

[@lerainking]

It was very well spoken. Racist A. Smith is so obnoxious.

[@soulstance]

Amen, i had goosebumps 😅

[@wn3723]

Bonfire!! Lip service is cheap SAS, do something to show you understand what you did.

[@Ecko_KaiRo]

Whats wild about this. Is if the shoe was on the other foot. SAS would have went scorched on everybody. For Stephen A.Smith apology to be sincere is to have Shohei Ohtani on First Take with his Interpreter and talking with them. Let's see that. Because it doesn't seem authentic.

[@terrellavery9]

But in one of the most informative ways possible lol

[@BrooklynVega1]

I don’t want to hear Ohtani talk I want to see him pitch and hit home runs.

[@cyprianmedrzycki6999]

Jeff Passan lovey kept throwing Stephan A under the bus😂

[@davidalexander9047]

I live in China, been to see Jimmer play. I've not heard a single Chinese pundit complain about how the Americans come to play and star in their league and don't speak Chinese. Of course they don't speak Chinese, they're not Chinese. Everyone accepts that. They come to play because they're basketball players, not linguists.

[@wn3723]

Excellent point!

[@lovetolaugh1453]

Well said!

[@33crushman]

If he learned Chinese his marketability would increase substantially. The same goes for Ohtani. That was his point.

[@breguera77]

@@33crushman completely disagree. Ohtani can speak English but he chooses not to when talking to the media. Watch his interviews. Plus, ohtani is on top of the baseball world right now. Vlad jr too. Both use interpreters but likely don’t need to. Their play speaks for themselves

[@bonefishgrill6382]

facts*

[@robliberachi]

SAS tells us he’s black like we forgot or are color blind.

[@vonshep8465]

🤣🤣🤣🤡

[@edgoodwin4389]

Nah I had no idea he was black. So glad he told us.

[@youngerudit2524]

Francis ngannou is Cameroonian, not Nigerian.

[@fightracism8945]

What's crazy is Stephen A was not even suspended for his comments. Since Disney owns ESPN i wonder if a Disneyland employee could tell a guest they should speak English or make fun of the pronunciation of a person's name like he did with the players on Nigeria's basketball team. Stephen A should be treated like any other company employee who would make such stupid comments.

[@fightracism8945]

@Milos Marinkovic it sounded like discrimination because Ohtani can't speak English well. Also what he said about the players on Nigeria's basketball team did sound racist making fun of the pronunciation of their names.

[@robertyoung5496]

Amazing that Jeff Passan can sound calm and pissed at the same time.

[@alanwoodwind5265]

Dude is a master orator

[@MrBarkaro94]

“As a black man” this man is a clown . I’m black but I’ve never needed to start every statement I make with that. Stephen A like a lot of African Americans are racist against other communities not black Americans. What he said about the Nigerian team how he talks about doncic this is not a one off this man is an embarrassment

[@walkandtalkwithme842]

I agree. I love black people. But if we gonna fix racism in this country, we need to get rid of a double standard. A Smith is always ripping white people, yet he makes a racism against an Asian.

[@artvandelay8767]

This dude has tweeted in the past that he ain't black, he's from the Caribbean. But now he's black?🤔

[@CAsaidit]

He basically said. Don’t hate me regardless of the xenophobic stuff I said because I’m a minority too.

[@walkandtalkwithme842]

@Deavon Jenkins excuse me? The best people I have ever worked with have been people of color. And you calling me white boy is racist. You have ' been reported.

[@walkandtalkwithme842]

@Deavon Jenkins, you are not worth my time. Clearly, you have issues you need to work on.

[@burningknuckle26]

jeff passan is a godsend

[@ahmsuli12]

Jeff P given Stephen A a back hand smack is the best part of this clip

[@Betdistrict]

This is hilarious. ESPN has lost the plot.

[@freddygaulman5493]

"He's left an empty net"

[@adopepeanut]

They let him act a fool all the time . Literally talks to max kellerman like he’s a child

[@isaiah2387]

@@adopepeanut "first of all you're wrong" lol Idk how max takes it that's light to compared to ways he talks to him sometimes

[@tjleaf3510]

@@isaiah2387 Stephen A is Max’s boss. He gotta take it or find a new job tbh lol

[@scruffd0g193]

Finals coverage has been awful

[@Bodhi594]

ESPN is such a disaster they'll probably suspend Jeff for talking to SAS like that. Lol

[@andrewboyce7268]

Its Jett

[@charismaticintrovert4379]

Suspend who?🤣

[@yimnerr]

@Commie KZbin uhhh I really doubt that.

[@LunyTunes007]

@Got Faggets? Rachel Nichols isn't fired.. what are you talking about?!

[@darmcjimpson2416]

Still no Nigerian apology. After thought

[@cameranmanner4701]

insults the asian community and apologizes by throwing out the black card?

[@HOusEoFsiERRa]

"I am a black man." "I have friends from the Asian American community..." Yeah, okay, so? 😂 That doesn't mean you can't be racist or xenophobic. 🙄

[@polan7434]

Hes delusional

[@gchong506]

If he had friends from the Asian community one of them would have told him what a idiot he is

[@alexognianov2135]

Ok and? He definitely isn't racist or xenophobic

[@stevek9582]

Blacist

[@nunya2171]

Imagine if a white person says something racist, but then backs it up with "but some of my best friends are black". Perhaps he should learn english better himself, grab an Oxford english dictionary and look up the word hypocrite.

[@roymonrreal9608]

Boy Jeff really dropped it right on Stephen 😂 I don't think I've ever seen Stephen A that quiet before lol

[@brandongipson9552]

Bro you're not asian why are you so concerned

[@goody869]

You got that right!!!😂

[@juniorbeckham2928]

😂😂 facts

[@juniorbeckham2928]

@@brandongipson9552 he dont needa be Asian

[@roymonrreal9608]

@Callack Kallen you want to criticize him because he's Asian and doesnt speak great English? Who gives a F*ck... Guy hits dingers a mile and it's awesome for the game

[@CB-ly4uj]

What is he even talking about? Stephen A has been racists towards Asians, dating all the way back to Lin.

[@fightracism8945]

Great job Disney/ESPN still allowing this guy to cover the NBA Finals despite making his stupid comments. He should have been suspended. There really should be a boycott.

[@jamesr5719]

He lost me on his apology when he started with, "I am a black man" 🤮

[@ozielmaldonado79]

Pulled the race card 😎

[@uptownsunni3560]

I DID hear him say "I was wrong" and "I am sorry" in there somewhere. He would have done better to stick to that.

[@jondwight2203]

context

[@ouzi9122]

Wait till another NBA coach needs to be hired lol

[@Streez-00]

I was like this 🙄🙄🙄 with this whole cancel culture he probably felt the heat

[@kellymiller1511]

This man only affirms his “black man” status when he’s offended other communities. The comments were wrong, and half apologized to the Nigerian community smh

[@eeii8235]

Smh Stephen is dead wrong and he should be off tv for a while. If he was white they would suspend him!

[@VolcardoReviewer]

Because the Nigerians getting mad over are being sensitive. He didn’t even say anything offensive about them.

[@astronomer5287]

Who knows, SAS ancestry could be Nigerian!

[@justinowre]

@@VolcardoReviewer you’re weird

[@ubilicious1887]

@@VolcardoReviewer you're the typical white man who dismisses people of colour as being over sensitive when they react strongly to racial abuse. You have no desire to sit down and make enough effort to rationally examine the root of their anger and the history of racism. In the video he was very condescending and dismissive as he was calling out the names of the Nigerian players. I know he wanted to make a point how inferior the Nigerian team is to Team USA, but his method was very wrong.

[@zmonkey111]

The producers posed the question of "Is Ohtani being the top attraction in MLB a problem?" This question is loaded to begin with. Why would there be a problem of him being the top attraction in MLB? Race and/or nationality is the only distinguishing factor in why you would call this into question. The producers did this FOR the reaction. Stephen A. GAVE them the material to react with. Calculated. You race baited ESPN. And that's disgusting.

[@breyonhopkins5690]

You know at the end of the day what he said isn't even that serious. It's sad to see people wanting ro call someone racist so bad, most of these people never even experienced racism

[@bladeguru6358]

Welcome to ESPN, and most other networks.

[@chronius7057]

Kudos to passan

[@lebronfanjones6840]

Ppl know a certain someone has a bad track record against asians. Anybody remember how he treated Lin during Linsanity?

[@geno1793]

Also Pacquiao

[@potawatomimko6108]

Im mean... He's textbook racist. Lol only cares about his race. Isnt that text book?

[@mommashouse6852]

Lin was trash

[@Ainttrippin]

Bruh Jeremy Lin had a miracle run but he was trash after that. Who cares.

[@SuperIcecold94]

Lin was trash after that 2/3 week period.. anything he said about him was strictly on court related

[@luisamundaray5632]

The fact that he started by saying “I’m a black man” so what because he’s black he can’t make racist comments?? What a clown 😂😂

[@malikg7757]

No it means he should know better ..

[@alexgarcia-kg1ob]

Right he also said white people favorite sentence i have a couple black/asians friends 🤣🤣🤣

[@malikg7757]

@@alexgarcia-kg1ob he said nothing wrong

[@Nyualum21]

“I don’t hide from it” Kwame Brown would like a word with you 🥴😂

[@donhav7654]

Lmao facts I’d like to see Stephens As jump shot😭

[@fightracism8945]

There's a youtube video titled "Shohei Ohtani speaking English for two minutes straight" which clearly shows Ohtani speaks English sometimes (like when he accepted AL rookie of the year) so i don't know what Stephen A Smith was even talking about with his stupid comment.

[@johnblain1474]

What kind of “anti racist” would say the stuff he said yesterday in the first place??? A real anti racist would praise MLB for being the most diverse of the four major American sports.

[@dkny9954]

forreals

[@smithyman33]

Diversity is as few white males as possible. Wonder which league espn loves the most?

[@natedogg890]

@@smithyman33 someone's salty

[@colby35]

@@smithyman33 no that's not what diverse means it means it has the most different races. It has more Mexicans and asians then any other major sport while also having plenty of black people and a lot of white

[@jaylav2373]

If it is most diverse, its because the athletic requirement is lower, dont make it sound like the MLB went out there way to be diversified, more than any other sport.

[@joelblanco1800]

"I am a black man" is his get out of jail free card lol

[@theblackmanwholaughs6670]

That literally makes no sense because it makes him look worse...

[@rh81454]

@@theblackmanwholaughs6670 Because he uses the race card to hurt people and then he wants other ethnicities to empathize when things happen to black folks.

[@darthvadeth6290]

lol

[@whatwhat9004]

@@theblackmanwholaughs6670 Bullcrap; he said it because he wants the “hey I’m a black man remember! Remember slavery and George Floyd” so don’t crucify me like you would somebody else because I’m black treatment.

[@mnmaddict37532]

Agree. Unfortunately, Rachel Nichols can't play that card.

[@arar2065]

I don’t feel like his apology is even close to sincere. GET IFF THE AIR!

[@roshadcampbell395]

Max: “he’s counting the days” lol

[@ghostproxy11]

Foreshadowing from Max

[@iFranky305]

He’s becoming annoying now. He can’t even apologize without feeling like he’s being victimized.

[@JustMe-nf1mf]

Beyond annoying & the bs has gotten real old

[@starskylove6113]

Idek why he even apologize...tf he need a translator and the face of the “American past time”

[@JustMe-nf1mf]

@@starskylove6113 What?

[@registame2878]

When wasn’t he annoying? You clearly have never liked him; just be clear with it

[@gbemiarubi5705]

Yall would want him back if he left so stop criticizing him

[@MindfulAttraction]

You can tell sas was tight when the white dude started talking 😂

[@carnettasheffield4039]

TIGHT

[@gbemiarubi5705]

Max

[@gbemiarubi5705]

If someone said black dude yall would call him racist

[@cibida1]

@@gbemiarubi5705 oh well tf

[@gbemiarubi5705]

@@cibida1 ??

[@99Pitches]

1. i feel under the weather today(sympathy card) 2. I go off on people who a racist to blacks (trying to connect) 3. "offensive to the minority community" (marginalizes the situation) 4. "a lot of racist say that was not my intent" (blaming others) 5. "i was wrong, period"... at 1:56 into the broadcast.... and no, it did not take him nearly two minutes to say those 4 words.... he had to soften up the viewers first....... then all the network goons come to the defense?? Max butting in mad it worse. It isnt a cancel culture thing, they shouldnt lose their jobs or anything. But it kind of exposes the 'smart' and 'market-driven comments produced by the show. so long First Take

[@yvnggoat4739]

Would you rather him not say nothing at all?

[@breguera77]

Not only was the comment Steven A said tone deaf and offensive, but it was simply a bad take. Ohtani is a blessing to the league, interpreter or not. It’s the same with Vlad Jr. he also uses an interpreter and he’s incredible. Both of these players are MVP caliber super stars and are about to bring baseball back

[@hartisify]

His entire existence is about being angry and controversial, he's so miserable lol. He thought he was gonna get laughs and he didn't, he's not truly sorry.

[@polan7434]

I'm soo tired of his voice,that loud angry $hit is out dated,WE DONT WANNA HEAR STEPHEN A SMITH ANYMORE!!!@! ESPN get some new young talent, that dude is trash,clown,smfh👊🏿✌🏿

[@HochgeborenKlown]

He should be in the WWf

[@jcpapaleo1]

He’s a hypocrite

[@eduardoimbue]

Max and Molly should’ve stepped up and said something yesterday. ESPN is full of “woke” hypocrites

[@TheOldSchoolGamer93]

Professionals don't call out their colleagues LIVE on the air in front of millions of people about their comment being racist

[@9doggie12]

They did if you watch

[@eduardoimbue]

@@9doggie12 expected more

[@willc5023]

forreal the one time u want molly to talk she quiet

[@mr.dolphin8345]

Because Stephen A is the most outspoken about these topics and plays the race card regularly, so they just follow lockstep with him.

[@abovebadmoneyfamilymusicgr8902]

Everybody needs a friend like max on their team.

[@petrmolina7975]

He is using his race for excuses. That’s nonsense. He should be glad that the Asians are relatively reserved, when it comes to racial issues. It also showed how ignorant he is. Simply stupid. I don’t want to see his shows anymore…

[@nwjennings]

All I’m gonna say is this. If Max said this, ESPN would’ve terminated him immediately.

[@concrete490]

Well, duh. Of cooooourse

[@amaanreer5311]

they didn't fire rachel tho

[@newthrash1221]

What did SAS say?

[@JuanJohn-Raytheon]

Nah, Max is super woke. He'd survive.

[@ceazemccallsr.6679]

@@newthrash1221 nothing to complain about if anyone would've lost they job for what he would be stupid because I'm still trying to figure out how was it offensive

[@Shiny101]

"I'm black so I get a pass to be racist from time to time."

[@justinschamp6212]

@huncho 4eva Racism is many things not just hatred. By Definition of Webster's dictionary "1 unfair treatment of people of a particular race in a society especially to the benefit of people of another race."...."I need Asian's to speak English because I can't understand you" is LITERALLY the TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE of Racism.

[@justinschamp6212]

@huncho 4eva Is there a rule that you have to speak English while living in the United States of America? I'm Asian who can speak perfectly fluent English but I do have some relatives who can't speak it well so they choose not to speak it in public because they're afraid of being mocked or misunderstood. Your situation of traveling to other countries and learning their language as respect..is YOUR situation. If you watched the video you would've noticed that the Guest said Ohtani SPEAKS English privately to his teammates just not publicly because he's probably not confident yet speaking it on NATIONAL television. Again, in America, people who are immigrants are not REQUIRED to speak another person's language for the benefit of others. There is ZERO obligations or laws for that. When you force someone to speak YOUR language for YOUR benefit, you're asking them to remove themselves from what they know to fit your needs. And I wasn't just pointing out Asians, Asians were the context of this particular situation, this applies to Africans, Arabs, Indians etc. It's like when Americans tell Latino's to speak English while living in cities called "Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco" etc LOLOLOLOLOL Like what??

[@rover7139]

Dumbest comment I've read on here

[@Shiny101]

@@rover7139 I agree. It's ridiculous, glad we're on the same page bro.

[@cooperladon]

If your people weren't just handicapped by Jim Crow just 70 years ago please .. just don't

[@arar2065]

Molly and Max, you should be ashamed. He’s such a big man…He’s so powerful! Wow he did this on Twitter. Wow. That’s just how a coward apologizes .

[@user-tt4qp6ot9v]

Exactly. We don't watch sports for the things the athletes say, we watch them for what they do. Stephen A said we can't have Ohtani on Wheaties boxes and I ask why not? That's when I knew it wasn't about Ohtani not speaking English, it's the fact that he's Asian that Stephen A was having such a hard time accepting Ohtani as on of the faces of the MLB.

[@wn3723]

Amen! Also JLin! Ohtani not only gives us a glimpse of Babe Ruth, BUT ASA gives a slight glimpse at the racism Hank Aaron, and Jackie Robinson experienced.

[@newthrash1221]

I’m surprised he didn’t start with saying that he has known Shohei Ohtani for 40 years and they are best friends and has donated a kidney to him before.

[@Emmanuel-tq1vc]

underrated comment

[@fallsarian5371]

😂😂

[@cantbandagloman]

😂

[@joshsanmiguel4186]

@Jon Dough Where do you think he learned that fastball?

[@ThaChazo]

I'm Latino and I was offended by what he said. Vladimir Guerrero Jr just won the 2021 All-Star MVP. He literally used an interpreter. People like Steven A should recognize that it's perfectly OK that you come from ANY part of the world and represent ANY American Sport.

[@rkang99]

And I was so happy for Vladdy Jr. He’s having an historic year, Vladdy, Shohei, Tatis, Acuna Jr, Soto and so many other international players are making baseball relevant again.

[@Woonyvillan401]

He hating that Asian player is on top of his game in MLB.

[@arvinpineda3396]

Using being black to say you're not racist 😮

[@oasis71]

Never seen anyone giving it to Stephen A like Jeff Passan just did, that was ballsy.

[@andrewboyce7268]

@Callack Kallen Jett is a stud. And a VERY smart stud. Has some big stones too. He made it known right away how mad he was about this.

[@CharlieMcLovin42]

@Callack Kallen he’s an MLB insider, he talks to these people everyday. I’m sure he knows more than almost everyone on earth about the situation

[@xlortiz]

Steph A is RACIST !

[@anthonymalcolmcalan]

The fact that y’all see this as a shot at Stephen A shows what’s wrong with this country. You’re not familiar seeing someone actively listen and want to learn. This isn’t a malicious conversation, this is an educational conversation.

[@chrispy9736]

He came to the show ready espn golden boy even had molly observing and not interrupting

[@evanboone205]

Stephen A making the apology all bout himself, what an ego maniac

[@xlortiz]

somehow it's Trump's fault

[@loststoryproductions]

@@xlortiz another ego maniac

[@lg3385]

I thought the same. Didn't even seem like an apology TBH

[@johosan]

If Otani had started speaking English at age 6, he could have spoken English like S. However, if S had started playing baseball at the age of 6, he would never have become a baseball player like Otani.

[@noahmeraz7923]

Whose here after what happened to Jon Gruden ?

[@SirGenesis206]

It should not be just an apology to the Asian community, but any athlete playing in foreign land. Winning is a universal language. And everyone deserves a chance at that if they have the talent, regardless of where that opportunity is.

[@ismth]

Yup he disrespects everyone when he makes a comment like that

[@diegopimentel1361]

We’re just going to leave out the Venezuelans and Dominicans that you called out during your Ohtani rant? Got it

[@ChaposShoota]

He literally said the Latino community when he was talking to Jeff lol are Venezuelans and Dominicans not Latino ? Or do U just hate SAS cuz u have different views from him ?

[@diegopimentel1361]

@@ChaposShoota ok then where? In what time frame of the video

[@CommentEnthusiast]

What did he say?

[@ChaposShoota]

@@diegopimentel1361 if u watch till the end u see the whole rest of the convo is cut off, he says it in his next monologue watch a video with the whole conversation

[@JCee13]

Blacks just hate asians currently so he went after Ohtani.

[@joninf83]

U SAID IT !!!

[@zackhartley4718]

I remember when ESPN use to talk about sports…

[@scchoi31]

he lost all credibility when he said "i am a black man"

[@1987benhur]

Then he "apologized" to the nigerians by saying he's close with Adensanya and Usman. Its the same thing when ppl claim theyre not racists towards black ppl just because they know someone or have a friend thats black. SAS is a joke.

[@boom8250]

@Callack Kallen ok racist

[@vincentrichardson1045]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@CAsaidit]

When someone has to talk about themselves to preface their apology, they are not sincere.

[@jayyyy0284]

exact same message he said in his tweet yesterday after his take. He defended his segment yesterday saying he's black so it's not racist or prejudice.

[@lonzobull684]

“Put the camera on me pls” “I don’t need a press conference..” 🤡🤡

[@pound6599]

Crazy! Even his apology reeks of arrogance.

[@squalman8567]

Righhhttt!! I was thinking the same thing!! He's all about that camera being on him and that's honestly all he cares about

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > belichick

[@dvdmoreno2010]

Imagine if he wrapped up his apology w/ "Now, WITH THAT BEING SAID....." 💀

[@InspireMe819]

You don't need to pull the "I'm a black man" card.

[@mollywapyo]

Dam Jeff kept throwing SAS under the bus 🚌 while smiling 😁

[@michaelwest2405]

Imagine if at the end of Stephen A talking Max hit him with the, “You’re wrong and here’s why”

[@FNxKris9758]

😂😂😂😂

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > bill belichick

[@joachimthomas2768]

I’m dead 😂

[@RedSeaTV.94]

Yoooo I'm CRINE🤣🤣🤣

[@andrewbisram123]

🤣

[@andrewptob]

He didn’t apologize for his opinion; he apologized for offending people. Doesn’t seem like he sees the real shittiness in what he said, but hey I guess that’s his opinion. So be it.

[@tylerfielding5311]

Why don’t you just forgive instead of cancel? Get over yourself

[@gauravagochiya4218]

@@tylerfielding5311 Where did you get the idea that AOB was trying to cancel him from any of this? He literally said at the end, ‘I guess that’s his opinion. So be it.’

[@cooperladon]

It's a start you must be perfect

[@sambortnick6836]

@@tylerfielding5311 how does it feel to be dumb?

[@kobeisthegoat332]

@@tylerfielding5311 because we black ....

[@user-lb2gp2gp2d]

Literally starts his speech by apologizing to the Asian community and not to Ohtani. He’s apologizing for pissing off the Asian community and not apologizing for being a racist pos to Ohtani. Just ridiculous

[@Peacefullyfree365]

He gets paid to talk like a clown and say foolish things. Let’s not pretend that Stephen A or ESPN are some kind of moral authority. They stir the pot.

[@morenocarlos9928]

Jeff Passan was so on point with his commentary on Ohtani, men like Ohtani should be respected and loved to the highest order

[@shanepringle]

@Andrew Kullen This is what happens when you view all this stuff through a race based lens. In all honesty, none of this stuff was racist. What SAS said was not racist and a white person "scolding" a black person is not racist, a white person being a criticizing a black person is not racist and vise versa. Racism is when you clearly hate another person simply for immutable characteristics like skin color. Everyone just needs to grow the F up.

[@cindymmm11]

Agree. Ohtani should be respected and love.

[@dannywoodson5049]

Doug pederson > bill belichick

[@MJ-jf7zw]

@Andrew Kullen Spoken like a closet racist degenerate

[@AyeTrayTheStrayy]

Bruh what a joke. This man always be on that bs til he's held accountable.

[@BabaYagaRacing]

Yupp

[@isaacmontoya9144]

🔥🔥💯💯

[@kc718201]

You mean like every other human?

[@deantehaynes9341]

@@kc718201 yeah I don’t know why ppl even trying to say that . Everyone does that lol

[@BePatientSeeLove]

Tbh no shade would an American be able to go to another country dominate in a sport and get the same respect we giving othani no shade or asian hate that's why I said any other country or even the respect we give gianiss and Embiid and the rest of the stars or upcoming stars to name a few somebody educate me

[@Jaceksynder]

I think SAS meant to say HE HAD friends in Asian community !

[@dasgibt2276]

Your words are no different from racists. shame on you. Whether you have Asian friends or you are black, that's no excuse.

[@abhipatwari4285]

jeff straight clapped stephen a.’s cheeks

[@stanlee3619]

Front or rear?

[@thomascharles7084]

stephen a be takin that on his own show

[@donnydixem8968]

Dont worry the brothas love it when they cheeks get clapped, especially on the DL

[@pervyboy69]

Opens up with I'm a black man, basically saying he can't be racist. What a muppet.

[@BabaYagaRacing]

Facts

[@dejones803]

That’s literally not what he said

[@darrius7974]

@@dejones803 no but he always says that when he is in a situation to explain himself

[@bishopdaking717]

@@darrius7974 If he always says it then Y didn’t he say it this time? ….

[@ramyzee5345]

Not what he said at all, he said that because he is a black man he should have known better to be insensitive to minorities. He literally used his blackness to hold himself more accountable. But nice try

[@p.vaammoosxiong9247]

Apology declined

[@pdb2k154]

Shohei is more American than sas