Stephen A. Smith is CONCERNED with the direction of sports media 👀 | First Take

Stephen A. Smith joins Molly Qerim and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo to share the inspiration for producing his three-part series "Up For Debate" that explores the evolution and future of sports media.
Previously recorded from 5/22.
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[@cedricspencer720]

The irony of Stephen A being concerned about the direction of sports media when him and Skip Bayless are directly responsible for where sports media is today

[@versewonderstrikes5353]

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@Bell_plejdo568p]

How are they

[@versewonderstrikes5353]

@@Bell_plejdo568p They promoted fake debates and yelling not true discussion and conversation . All everyone else did was copy that blueprint. Add Wilbon & Kornheiser to that list as well.

[@Bolttoast]

Yup Rob Parker basically teaches a “hot takes” class at USC

[@user-rv1sy1iv3l]

​@@versewonderstrikes5353and i feel you cause in the end that's how they changed it,their takes were supposed to be unbiased opinions and good analysis of the game but it was far from that

[@lordfriezachrist6546]

The mainstream media is jealous that retired athletes and rappers are more entertaining talking about sports than they are

[@itshiho]

Problem is not all of them know what they're talking about and make up stuff and are inaccurate.

[@RellyRell-ud3iz]

@@itshihowell that’s most of espn

[@maduit]

And they are more real about it. Not creating false narratives.

[@RootTea1]

​@@RellyRell-ud3iz Say what you will, Stephen A. Smith is a JOURNALIST. If there's a difference between a street ball player and an NBA player, then why is it so hard to appreciate that journalism is a profession that has its own skill set (how to conduct multiple kinds of interviews, VOCABULARY--which most of these NBA players sorely lack)?

[@zachstolpa6521]

@@RootTea1 bingo, people tend to forget that a crucial part of journalism is critique and there ways to do it properly and well and ways not to

[@michaelhughes5373]

Stephen A is the problem with sports media

[@Hoody_Squanchy420]

🎯🎯

[@caribbeanradiology7004]

Jealousy is a B

[@Louisiana71220]

💯

[@LeSteeler]

@@caribbeanradiology7004 stop bootlickin

[@davidgindi1192]

no fans like you are the problem

[@davidroseman4917]

SAS is what's wrong with sports media. Any idiot can scream their opinion

[@user-wl7kk9ws9x]

You dumb asf he went to school for all that you dumb hoe

[@puma12345ace]

And yet you are here watching his videos xD

[@Prosperillusion]

I used to get annoyed when he’ll bring up race especially when it’s uncalled for

[@manfromwuhan5876]

The pot calling the kettle black

[@bo0gi3]

yup

[@sebeku2]

Screamin A Smith and Skip Clueless started the slow death of sports journalism with the hot takes and glorified barbershop talk debate of aports media

[@Zenigundam]

He never should have been allowed to rise up through the company. When Quite Frankly got cancelled, that should have been the end of Stephen A. Smith on TV. ESPN was a much better channel when its anchors and reporters didn't put on a show with histrionics and disrespecting athletes. Drama and controversy sell, unfortunately.

[@cookiemoney7451]

@@Zenigundamhe’s the least problem

[@archiemailoto4119]

Yeah, people want to hear from actual athletes and real journalists. I'm just tired of the bias and no actual analysis of the game

[@kgrkid]

@@archiemailoto4119then why are even here, idiot?

[@krishnawidardjo5777]

I prefer Skip Pointless. The guy keep saying stuff without any meaning

[@RAnixon]

Now yall can't control the narrative 😂😂

[@sibonisoduma5878]

That word is the new media effect.

[@TempeSoldier123]

This is like a drug dealer saying drugs are bad and he doesn’t like what it’s doing to society.

[@felipeb.9321]

😂😂😂

[@whoshotya410]

Watch Stephen A spin the narrative to seem like he's done something big for the scene. What a goof

[@xZoogiiee]

Well he has

[@brandonsanders8324]

He has brought a huge amount a views/viewers too multiple sports, which has helped these athletes get paid more looking at the big picture.

[@Two3sf]

You said this for interaction bait. It’s obvious.

[@damitbegone]

​@@brandonsanders8324 no he has not. Ypure tripping

[@critdaddysama4656]

Brunson is better than Luka according to SAS 🤡 lmaoooo

[@emikomina]

you're part of the problem, this mf just said the other day brunson deserved 1st team all nba over luka. his nyc bias is ruining sports media

[@kgrkid]

Actually it’s entitled idiots like you that’s doing that, boy!

[@YourJamaicanChief]

He did though no one thought the knicks would be a two seed and to produce the numbers he did

[@juggsandmagsss9397]

Even Brunson doesn’t think he should have been 1st team over Luka. Stop it

[@marckusduverger9776]

@YourJamaicanChief: I’m a Knicks fan but not over Luka bro, Mavs & Knicks have the same record & Luka’s stats are out of this world. He was Top 3 in MVP

[@ashokathegreat4534]

Cry about it hes still right

[@willywonker2895]

YOU ARE THE PROBLEM WITH SPORTS MEDIA

[@fighterck6241]

It's not just sports media, it's ALL media. Look at political media and that mess!

[@tedmich]

Pioneered by FOX, if we're being honest.

[@kevinburke6055]

@@tedmich Fox, NBC MSNBC ABC CNN r all the same thing propaganda Fox is just controlled opposition

[@ChrisHuber88]

​@@tedmichthat's a total lie. Its not pioneered by any media company. Its pioneered by the CIA and the intelligence communities

[@AliFrankTheTank]

Media dudes nervous cause the athletes coming for they gigs 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Stephen A hating

[@thomasparker2447]

This is a hoot. The title should be "The Fox is CONCERNED with the direction of the henhouse."

[@Kevin.Costner.]

This the same guy who said less than 48 hours ago that J Brown is the most hated celtic and not marketable from “Sources..”???

[@ronnieg2961]

Boston infamously doesn’t like black players not surprised

[@Atribecalledsuccess]

Why lie he didn’t say that 😂😂

[@Emperor-CaoCao]

And even if he did, fk jb

[@kevothegoat9891]

He did say he’s not marketable tho and that people don’t like his “I’m better than you attitude”

[@lightningjuniorsuper]

A source he very much disagreed with bc he knows only the opposite to be true

[@BoskoShabazz]

Problem with sports media is too many people are just giving hot takes and not giving analysis.

[@sudeepgautam8692]

The problem is Stephen A smith

[@kgrkid]

Wrong, it’s you, Karen!

[@Two3sf]

How so? Or you said this for interaction bait? 🥱🥱

[@ashokathegreat4534]

Okee cricket expert

[@kgrkid]

@@Two3sf First Take is the #1 sports show on today, ratings don’t lie, but you do, boy!

[@727-Gaming]

This is soooo ironic seeing as he’s irreversibly damaged sports media with constant debates and tmz style drama coverage 😂😂

[@felipeb.9321]

aint no lies, for real.

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Stephen A has driven it in this direction. He doesn’t get to be concerned.

[@Sandy-xb1jp]

People are sick of Stephen A screaming, I’ll say that!

[@Acepilot12345]

We love him when the cowgirls lose😂

[@Sandy-xb1jp]

@@Acepilot12345 oh hahaha so funny, You’re just like Stephen, big hat, no cattle.

[@theradicalg322]

Says the guy who cant win with Dak 💀 those interception numbers looking mighty fine.

[@ocampbell1954]

He has the number one sport show for ESPN. You couldn't be more wrong

[@Sandy-xb1jp]

@@ocampbell1954 your taste sucks

[@JasonMoir]

Stephen A is indicative of the problem with sports media. People just love hearing the sound of their own voice...and they rarely say anything of value.

[@Wdf9500]

So SAS mad at the monster he created? Lol

[@travissmith6380]

SAS over hear cant admit HE is part of the death of OLD SPORTS MEDIA. Him constantly acting like a clown while MAKING up stories did nothing but hurt the entire business.

[@user-wl7kk9ws9x]

Your opinion don’t matter to these ppl you a nobody to them ! You prob a nobody in real life as well

[@RealNameRover]

The guy who ruined it, is now worried about the direction of sports media is heading in.

[@philb.1502]

The sports media industry landscape has changed dramatically. The emergence of independent podcasts means that ESPN is no longer the only show in town. The viewers have so many options and choices to get their information.

[@brettt141]

SaS controls the most popular sports show in the US and says im worried about sports media. get this clown off the screen

[@_Smitty1212]

SAS is part of the problem, I agree with many others.

[@Two3sf]

How so? Or you just said this for interaction bait

[@steplaland]

Stephen disrespected both Kobe and MJ when he said Devin and Ant reminded him of them respectively. What a joke.

[@pridemyselfwithnontrolling5230]

This whole thing has always been a gimmick. Before the show they already know what the other person is going to say, they always make it between a black guy and a white guy, and it just doesnt seem authentic.

[@theanalyst2018]

Sure just like when you guys pushing anthony edwards to be the new face of nba but ant is not ready yet

[@TheMrDrGee]

BINGO

[@user-EB2016]

The problem is that these athletes and independent content creators have access to the megaphone now and folks like SAS don't like it. He is no longer THE voice he is just A. voice.

[@michaelm5554]

💯

[@ZMSportsnShorts]

Recency bias is the worst problem in sports media

[@alfieb6711]

Mr Hairline (Stephen A) and Mr Bias (Skip) are the reason for this

[@SolutionFITNESS-SF]

Who is policing you that's the problem 😂 you have been the problem

[@AbelVlogsRD]

SAS is the ultimate clown of the NBA analysts. He said on friday Anthony Edwards is the face of the NBA when Jokic be having 3 MVPs in 4 seasons fighting for that with Luka, Giannis and Embiid. He just hates foreign players. He even predicted 8 finals wrong. Nobody can take that man serious

[@lilleml]

He acting like he aint part of the problem too

[@kgrkid]

Because he’s not, stupid!

[@snowman300]

Me too. There’s clowns out there saying Brunson should’ve been first team over Luka!

[@albertomartinez-bq9nn]

Corporate sports media is NARRATIVE DRIVEN….KZbin podcasters spearheaded by normal sports fans IS NOT. They have no skin in the game and as a result give honest takes based on facts. It’s refreshing.

[@415east]

That was true before Adsense but now it’s only partly true. I seen plenty of basketball and boxing KZbinrs pander to an athlete because they know it’ll get them views and subscribers. But there’s still more authenticity on here than mainstream.

[@blackspider1405]

Not true. The bigger you get on KZbin, the more corporate interests will define what it is you do. They all have skin in the game. Nobody is doing this for kicks.

[@kgrkid]

Wrong again, stupid!

[@nellzman]

​@@415eastspot on. I was thinking that too.

[@thecoolguy010]

​@@415east Agreed. Even the podcasters are clout chasers too

[@avataz]

Most Sports Media is just pro wrestling, they are saying the most outlandish thing possible just to get a reaction, not because they believe that they say

[@lesliec3234]

NO! YOU ARE THE PROBLEM! A. S.tephen S.mith

[@zachstolpa6521]

Seems like the pot calling the kettle considering where this is coming from

[@Iamhim03]

yeah karma for kicking out Max

[@Reaper12349]

The pot calling the kettle black.

[@Bask3tChase]

*insert Eric Andre meme here*

[@steplaland]

Stephen A calls out on tv which coach should be fired and which coach should be hired. And it’s not equally based on performance.

[@janoushhhb6551]

Lol just color based

[@kgrkid]

@@janoushhhb6551both of you idiots are dead dumb wrong

[@Logical281]

Says one of the main causes in the shift of coverage

[@paskeviciusss]

*when u start feeling irrelevant*

[@BenoSaradzic]

Stephen A is literally THE PROBLEM with sports media today. He's the last to talk. His disrespect for Luka is just one example of his absurd, laughable bias.

[@ashokathegreat4534]

He’s American media. If you dont like it go follow your balkan media instead

[@yungesjosef]

He’s just upset because the 90s are done and his narratives are being disproven. The internet has released the truth and these sportscasters can no longer steer the narratives and speak with such negative conviction against athletes and sports. Journalistic integrity is at a higher standard now.

[@Kevon420]

omfg seeing old First Take clips in crisp HD is crazy, I love it!! I'm so used to seeing shitty low res versions of all those funny clips.

[@tomaspenna2815]

Stephen A saw Lebron's pod being 1000x better than First Take and got shook!!

[@K12127]

Mad dog and Stephen a are what’s wrong with sports media

[@sheastadium2008]

It really came from Mike and the Mad Dog on Radio with the arguing, but Skip and Stephen A put it global on ESPN. They also started the whole fake debates segments.

[@mauromatos3124]

SAS is mastering the art of gaslighting.

[@shobhanabista186]

SAS, Perk other followers with irractic bias takes are da main problem in sports media

[@mitchellbauer5323]

He carries on that he’s been covering the sport for over 30 years yet the only thing he can analyse is the box score

[@brettt141]

Crazy is the NBA podcasts that dont just talk about the Lakers are doing well. Crazy. Welp onto the next frist take topic "How will the lakers use Bronny james next year?"

[@TheMrDrGee]

Basically, he’s telling everyone to shut up and let big corporate control the media space.

[@emdr-therapy-]

Wearing loose socks to bed = drug addiction/depression cure

[@teddyhart2913]

Snapple fact?

[@dwightyawg7781]

Sounds like something Perk would say rather than just having a good take

[@user-ss6hs1rp8c]

Stephen A. We know where it’s going !!! It’s going in the direction of pat McAfee you just seem to be blinded

[@IliasLiako]

Is this dude serious? He’s spent the last month punching down on Tatum to just yesterday slandering Jaylen Brown with fake sources and quotes….dont forget the pitchfork he pulled out for Westbrook. Are you REALLY out here spinning this narrative? Dude is untethered from reality. My god.

[@jamescooper705]

“We’re all trying to find the guy who did this”

[@Nickvanexel23]

The problem is the people who are on tv are clearly not watching all of these games lol they have someone watch them and give them the plays 😂😂😂

[@jefframos4267]

“Timberwolves have the best defense I’ve seen in 30 years” dude went from “OKC vs wolves wfc, to Wolves winning the series and now he says no way Dallas loses” man SAS is the definition of hot takes and recency bias.

[@JuiceKarter]

Blockbuster vs Netflix is where it’s going. Bye bye.

[@nostoneunturned7641]

People like him are the problem. Look at what ESPN did. They fired their long time classic staff members in favor of very animated and cartoonish personalities like his. This desperation to as entertaining as possible rather than having journalist integrity is what started their fall from grace.

[@raven4475]

LOL.... What a thumbnail title (irony) especially from this show and network !!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@crazcray]

this should be titled "Stephen A concerned because his infleunce shoots him in the foot."

[@chrisbritt2828]

Then why did he and ESPN lead the way there. They don't do sports analysis any more, it's high school gossip.They don't have serious takes any more, it's saying outrageous things just to get attention.

[@betancourt564]

Stephen A, a.k.a, “any player is better than Luka”

[@101CamourTv]

Stephen A is upset that it took him 20 years to do what people are doing now in 20 weeks. Don't hate bc ppl have a voice. What makes you think you're the only one deserving?

[@burnedpotato4374]

Sports media like Stephan a Smith can no longer go on week long bashing on certain NBA players without them responding. Now that athletes have podcasts they’re able to respond to these Talking Heads and their responses get even more views that they can’t control the media and can’t control the narratives anymore.

[@peytonlong5573]

The irony, when you were apart of the kick start of this era of media Stephen A

[@blackcurlmagicgrey-sloan8640]

Creating, producing and staring in a documentary about the state of sports media, knowing that you’re one of the main culprits that helped ruin it is nasty work lol . I’m gonna watch and see if Dan Lebatard is in it cus if he is then I’ll know he was some what serious about this doc

[@gusto2954]

Mr. Smith YOU, my dear sir is the problem with sports media.

[@Muyiwa01]

Glad I’m not the only one who sees SAS as part of the problem.

[@gonzalorojo6815]

He is the problem, pushing narratives like Ant being the next Jordan while shitting on white players like Luka

[@ashokathegreat4534]

Dont like it? Go watch your latinx sport media then.

[@HBZTwistaOk]

the thing wrong with sports media is that they DON'T just stick to sports

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

The issue is mainstream sports media is more interested in the narratives they spit out rather than the actual narratives. It's people like Stephen A that stained the credibility of sports media.

[@lightningjuniorsuper]

It’s also how each generation interacts and consumes media Ppl have watched or stop watching vids without knowing context or taking time to understand their pov or they don’t care Also once you’re labeled something it’s permanent Ex. Mr 1.5 Even tho SAS said yo I didn’t even avg anything bc my knee gave out. Ppl still call him that. And then also remember only that. Ppl call of his comments on Kyrie hating and not understanding where he’s coming from bc again once they label as hate it goes in one ear and out the other. Ppl just don’t pay attention to what’s being said but rather whose speaking even if said person is speaking truths

[@stephenpatrick6387]

I hate the debate sports media. Putting athletes against each other and journalists becoming the stories instead of the games and taking negative stuff and blowing it out of context for clicks.

[@adambrown7609]

55-10 was Niners Broncos. Mad Dogs' story about their pre-game meeting with John Madden is epic.

[@idideleven]

I was hoping someone caught that

[@Marcus410]

Yep. I'm a Cincinnatian. I was ALL OVER that one !!!!!

[@hoodiepen]

Says the guy who also keeps on influencing narratives on players for the league 🤡 along with Perk

[@Slenderirl]

KZbin really allowed this and its a great thing, for so long has espn capitalized on exclusivity, etc. now anyone can do it.

[@Good2bking]

The problem with sports media is hot takes and not actual analysis

[@donvolio4089]

The only concern with sports media is ESPN replacing the Inside the NBA crew with their clown show

[@angelochase3873]

This the same dude who said he doesn’t care about the ECF? This the same dude who had a whole segment about how he could score on Bron? Or is the the same dude who claims to be a Knicks fan but didn’t know the roster? Yeah SAS look in the mirror

[@robbchastain3036]

It is just that social forces can't help themselves with negative injections and aspersions about athletes and their games, and shockingly some athletes eagerly jump on that bandwagon. Sports talk is enjoyable and enriching when it is about performances and outcomes and milestones and life lessons from the highs and lows. And if sports talkers want to talk broader issues, fine, just not on the fans' time and dime.

[@thecoolguy010]

SAS/Skip are the problem.

[@mitchellbauer5323]

Anyone with a reasonable amount of knowledge on the NBA does not care what Stephen A has to say.

[@mjprelic]

After he mentions in clips she goes on and say " and you have social media, and we have KZbin" I think that's what he's talking about lol

[@phoenixc6812]

The call is coming from inside the house

[@stef8709]

The problem with sports media is that when people feel threatened by the intelligence of their co hosts they want to fire them, which ruins the essence of a debate show. I bet this doc tried SO hard to edit max out.

[@MoDinidaGr8]

Stu Scott, changed the game for another of these jokers. He brought his personality to ESPN. Now everybody think they're the star...not the sport the cover.

[@aarrontherwbyfan1181]

How can you be concerned with Sports media when your the main reason people make wild sports takes Mind you this is the same man who said someone couldn't be the face of a League because they can't speak our language This man is also responsible for some Xenophobic takes in the NBA This documentary will not highlight the problems he's helped cause

[@aldrianspalding4157]

Where tf is stephen a smith i wanna c what he has to say about Luka now

[@SUBZRO]

He's part of the problem on why sports media is what it is now.

[@nfl08081999123456789]

The irony of ESPN posting this is hilarious. They are every single thing wrong with sports media

[@anthonybrown2200]

This is a little ironic👎🏿

[@brianvail9212]

It's sort of like how major film critics were phased out

[@WeAreTheQs]

I don’t like how SAS didn’t mention Max Kellerman when he talked about his career