From: officialflagrant
Sports journalism, like any field, has evolved significantly. While today’s landscape allows nearly anyone to express an opinion, there was a time when the right to voice an opinion had to be meticulously earned [00:02:28].
Earning the Right to an Opinion
In earlier eras of journalism, especially in the newspaper industry, expressing an opinion was a privilege reserved for columnists [00:03:46]. This contrasts sharply with the modern age of social media, where “everybody can have an opinion” without necessarily having worked through the rigorous journalistic hierarchy [00:02:28], [00:03:29].
Stephen A. Smith recalls working through nearly 10 promotions in his career before being granted a columnist position by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 [00:04:00], [00:04:10]. He was the 21st Black person in American history to be given that title [00:04:16], [00:04:19]. This long journey underscores the importance of respecting those who “came before you to pave the way” [00:03:10].
When granted the columnist role, Smith felt a sense of freedom, being able to express his true feelings beyond just reporting facts [00:06:17], [00:06:20]. He always had opinions, even when he was just a reporter, finding ways to “sting” a little by inserting subtle critiques [00:06:29]. Once unleashed, he was “spitting out opinions left and right,” covering various athletes like Allen Iverson, Larry Brown, and Tracy McGrady [00:07:01], [00:07:05].
The Dynamics of Trust and Confidentiality
A crucial aspect of sports journalism, especially when expressing strong opinions, is maintaining trust and confidentiality with sources and athletes. Smith states that journalists “all know 75% more than what we reveal” [00:13:35], [00:13:42]. He personally doesn’t reveal “80% of the stuff that I know” to build trust [00:14:45], [00:14:51]. If everything were disclosed, no one would trust a journalist [00:14:03], [00:14:05].
Smith adheres to a “code” (or “bro code”) that transcends race and applies universally [00:11:44], [00:11:50]. This code dictates that personal lives are off-limits unless they directly impact performance on the field or court [00:11:33], [00:11:35], [00:19:37]. For example, if a player is visibly impaired due to substance use during a game and it affects their play, Smith might critique their performance in a way that hints at the underlying issue without explicitly stating it [00:16:14], [00:17:05]. He will not report on private affairs or drug use unless it’s a direct, unignorable detriment to their professional performance [00:20:26], [00:20:36].
He acknowledges that GMs or coaches might leak information about opposing teams, hoping he’ll publish it to instigate wars between teams [00:17:15], [00:18:13]. His primary concern, however, is the veracity of the information [00:17:40]. If it’s truthful, he will use it, but he draws a clear line at gossip or personal attacks [00:19:40].
Relationships with Athletes
Smith’s opinions are “fact-based” due to his nearly 30 years of covering the NBA and his extensive network of contacts, including coaches, players, owners, and player personnel [00:12:19], [00:12:28]. He would directly confront players, even telling them face-to-face if their performance was “garbage” [00:07:42].
He famously had an eight-month period where he didn’t speak to Allen Iverson because Iverson disliked an article Smith wrote, which criticized Iverson for taking too many liberties and needing to “get his act together” [00:08:13], [00:08:28]. The rift stemmed from Iverson’s frustration after a friend was murdered, which led to his famous “practice” rant [00:09:07], [00:09:11]. Their reconciliation was facilitated by Iverson’s late friend, Rob, who arranged a meeting at a nightclub [00:09:30], [00:09:51].
Another notable confrontation involved Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson. In 2003-2004, after Randy Ayers took over coaching the 76ers and was ultimately fired, Smith went on TV to express his views on Robinson’s handling of the situation [00:21:41], [00:22:07]. This led to a heated exchange in the locker room in Denver, where Smith responded to Robinson’s insults by saying he felt the “exact same way” about Robinson’s performance [00:22:13], [00:22:33]. Years later, Smith regretted his behavior, recognizing that as the journalist, he should have been the professional and the “grown-up” [00:23:11], [00:24:15]. He later apologized to Robinson’s son, ensuring their father’s past issues would not influence his commentary on the son’s career [00:24:21], [00:24:50].
Social Issues and Sports Opinions
Stephen A. Smith believes sports are an escape from a “messed up world” [01:01:04], [01:01:07]. He acknowledges that people get frustrated when politics and social issues “infiltrate” sports [01:01:13], [01:01:17]. However, he argues that “society has always infiltrated sports” [01:01:37], citing historical figures like Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Curt Flood, and Jackie Robinson [01:01:47], [01:02:00]. These athletes used their platforms to address real-world issues, demonstrating that they “still have to live in the society once the game stops” [01:02:13], [01:02:16].
Smith defends athletes like Colin Kaepernick, who protested without disrupting the game itself [01:03:15], [01:03:22]. He concludes that it is beneficial when societal issues infiltrate sports because it reminds everyone that while “life can be beautiful and it can be a game,” it’s ultimately “about life” [01:04:00], [01:04:05], [01:04:08].