Latest news with #StephenA.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I don't get paid to talk to you, I get paid to talk about you" - Stephen A. responds to Haliburton calling out media critics
"I don't get paid to talk to you, I get paid to talk about you" - Stephen A. responds to Haliburton calling out media critics originally appeared on Basketball Network. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith lashed out at Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton for the latter's comment about NBA media during the post-Game 3 press conference. According to Smith, Haliburton made a "very ignorant statement" when he said the NBA talking heads knew nothing about basketball when they criticized his low-scoring games. Advertisement Flanked by the Morris twins and former Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams on ESPN's First Take, SAS said that it wasn't just ESPN who called out Hali's previous performances but also ex-NBA stars like Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Kendrick Perkins. "Win the damn chip, bro. In the first two games of this NBA final series, you had your moment with 0.3 seconds left. Other than that, you didn't play well," Smith said. "That ain't on me. That's on you, you know. And, oh, by the way, just in case he was talking about me, my brother, I'm not going away. I'm gonna be here for a while. So next year, and the year after that… I'm going to be here, and players far more accomplished and far more superior have made their efforts trying to call me out. How has that worked out?" Tyrese did not say who in particular he was referring to After three games in the 2025 NBA Finals, Haliburton is averaging 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. However, many criticized him for his passive effort in Game 2, where Hali scored only five points through three quarters, and his Pacers were blown out 107-123. As Stephen A. mentioned, Tyrse was having a bad Game 1 before he hit the game-winning basket. Advertisement In his post-Game 3 interview, Haliburton said he couldn't care less about the criticism he was getting because the talking heads knew nothing about basketball. But while Hali mentioned ESPN, he did not mention Smith's name. Still, Stephen A. felt that Tyrese was talking about him, so he had to let him have a piece of his mind, too. "Unfortunately, a lot of guys are not as fortunate as I am from this standpoint," Smith added. "They have to talk to you. I don't get paid to talk to you. I get paid to talk about you. Whether I speak or whatever it is, you don't stop this train. It is a locomotive because, you know, we've been No.1 for 13 straight years." Related: "Yeah, they'll probably have to do something" - Bird says the NBA will be forced to move the 3-point line back if high volume continues Wright also opposed what Haliburton said While he did not feel as "guilty" as Stephen A. sounded, Fox Sports' Nick Wright agreed with his ESPN counterparts that Tyrese's criticism of the NBA media was out of line. Wright said the talking heads merely said he was not aggressive enough on offense in Game 2, leading to a Pacers' loss. And they were correct because when Haliburton took 17 shots and scored 22 in Game 3, Indiana won. Nick, however, wondered who has the right to discuss basketball matters if Hali doesn't think the ones doing it right now are qualified. Advertisement "I do have this question," Wright said. "Who can talk about basketball? Because the answer can't be the retired players. Have you heard these podcasts? You might think some of our takes are out of line; I don't know if you guys have sampled some of the retired players' podcasts and what's happening in those streets…Bad basketball takes know no country. They can come from any source. And good basketball takes know no country, either." Everyone has a right to talk about basketball. And everybody is entitled to say what they want about Haliburton. But Tyrese also has the right to say what he wants about them. Nick's reaction to Hali was how the media should respond — using facts to argue, not personal feelings. Stephen A., meanwhile, is clearly so full of himself, talking about him being untouchable at ESPN and nobody stopping his train. That's just childish, coming from a guy twice as old as Tyrese. But then again, that's what sells. Related: "Don't settle for passing the ball and getting people involved" - Jay Williams urges Tyrese Haliburton to be more selfish vs. Thunder This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Former WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike touts Stephen A Smith's debate skills ahead of possible presidential run
While less than six months have passed since the 2024 presidential election, sports media star Stephen A. Smith appears to already be looking ahead to 2028. Smith, who recently signed a lucrative contract extension with ESPN, often delves into political conversations on his podcast, "The Stephen A. Smith Show." During a February edition of his podcast, Smith addressed the idea of launching a bid for president a few years from now. "I wanted to put this to bed once and for all. … I have no intentions of running for the president of the United States of America," Smith said on an episode of his podcast that premiered on Feb. 17. But in April, the longtime "First Take" host suggested recent events prompted him to change course. "Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I'm officially leaving all doors open," Smith wrote on X on April 7. Chiney Ogwumike, who spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks and currently works at ESPN, highlighted a specific skill that could work to Smith's advantage should he ultimately run for political office. "I think he would be the first to say he would not necessarily want to run, but let me tell you this: I hope he makes the debate stage," the ESPN analyst told Front Office Sports. "I think he will more than hold his own. There is nobody that is more prepared for a presidential debate format than Stephen A., in my opinion." During the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas in early April, Smith made it clear that his decision to run for office would ultimately hinge on the state of the nation in a year or two and whether the data at the time would indicate he had "a legitimate shot to win." "If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it's an absolute mess and there's legitimate reason to believe – whether it's via exploratory committees or anything else – that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States. I am not going to rule it out, and I'm not playing." President Donald Trump recently called into NewsNation's town hall on Wednesday as Smith appeared on the network. During the call, Trump expressed support for a potential presidential bid from Smith, saying the broadcaster is "a good guy." "Stephen A., he's a good guy," Trump said. "He's a smart guy. I love watching him. He's got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him. "You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say, 'They have no chance.' I've been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates. And I will tell you, I'd love to see him run." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen A. believes Warriors had playoff-derailing loss to Clippers
Stephen A. believes Warriors had playoff-derailing loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area Programming Note: Tune into 'Warriors Pregame Live' at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for 'Warriors Postgame Live.' Was the Warriors' 124-119 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center the final blow to Golden State's hopes of making a deep playoff run? Advertisement No, but ESPN's Stephen A. Smith believes the regular-season-finale defeat will have a ripple effect on the remainder of the Warriors' postseason, which begins with an NBA Play-In Tournament matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday in San Francisco. 'I believe it did, I really really do,' Smith said Monday on 'First Take' when asked if the loss cost the Warriors a deep playoff run. 'I think when you're talking about the play-in, obviously that denies them the opportunity and the additional rest they were looking for … had you won yesterday's game, it buys you the whole week of rest and the ability to potentially recover from [injuries]. 'Going up against Memphis, who is a relatively physical team … let's say, for example, Golden State wins this game. If you win this game, you're going up against Houston. How often are we going to sleep on Houston?' If the Warriors beat the Grizzlies on Tuesday, they will successfully escape the play-in tournament for the first time since the format's debut four years ago and claim the Western Conference's No. 7 seed with a matchup against the young, hungry No. 2 seed Houston Rockets waiting for them. Advertisement While some believe a first-round series against an inexperienced Houston team is more favorable to the Warriors than the three seed/six seed series they would have played against the Los Angeles Lakers had they beaten the Clippers on Sunday, Smith believes the Warriors' latest loss does not set them up well for a deep playoff run. 'I don't like this at all,' Smith added. 'I'm still holding out hope because obviously Draymond [Green] made his guarantee and I would like to see Steph Curry for as long as we possibly can, but I do look at that loss yesterday and the extra load it's going to put on them and I do think it's something that could derail the Golden State Warriors sooner than later.' Can the Warriors exorcize their play-in demons and secure a spot in the playoffs? We will find out on Tuesday night. Coverage begins with 'Warriors Pregame Live' at 6 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area Advertisement Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
New York Times
07-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Is Stephen A. Smith really worth $100 million? Takeaways from his megadeal
Richard Deitsch and Andrew Marchand are sports media writers for The Athletic. They converse every couple of weeks on sports media topics. This week, they discuss Marchand's scoop that Stephen A. Smith has agreed to a new contract with ESPN worth at least $100 million for five years, an agreement that will result in Smith continuing to star on 'First Take' on ESPN while scaling back some of his other required appearances on the network, which would free him up to talk even more about politics. Deitsch: I will never forget what a prominent talent agent told me long ago about ESPN. This was someone who negotiated many deals with management. The agent said, 'You have to f— ESPN before they f— you because they will f— you.' I was thinking about this quote when I saw your intrepid reporting about ESPN re-signing Stephen A. Smith to a $100 million deal. I think it would be valuable to readers for you to offer a quick primer on why the money here is so large and how ESPN sees a possible ROI (return on investment). Because I imagine a lot of readers are stunned by the numbers. Advertisement Marchand: There is an argument that no one in sports media should make $20 million per year, but if anyone should, Stephen A. is at the top of the list. It doesn't matter if you like him or not or think his opinions are good or not, the product of First Take is mostly Stephen A. Not games or pregames, it is about him leading as an entertainer. The show brings in tens of millions of dollars per year. If you let Stephen A. go, is there a replacement and how much would that person cost? Shannon Sharpe would be the answer at the moment. According to sources, Sharpe makes $6.5 million per year from ESPN for two days of First Take a week. If he had replaced Smith full-time, he would at least want to double that. After Sharpe, there is no one else who is an obvious replacement. Plus, even though Smith's recent go at politics might create an eventual headache, I respect his work ethic, and he has been committed to the network. The funny thing about his recent turn is that when the network was perceived to be the most political, during Donald Trump's first presidential term, Stephen A. mostly stayed out of it, following what Disney wanted. Deitsch: Whether it's Stephen A. Smith or an NBC Sports intern, I think everyone owes it to themselves to get as much as they can, especially given the instability of the broader sports media industry. I'm not convinced — or less convinced than you — that First Take would drop off significantly as far as a revenue driver with different talent. I think the show would make nearly as much money with Sharpe and some other person across the way. But ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and ESPN president of content Burke Magnus have designated who the company's front-facing stars are — and Smith is at the top of the list. This brings me to an adjacent topic — how this plays internally. Both of us have talked to hundreds of ESPN people over the years. Sometimes, no one blinks at these big salaries, and other times, it has people questioning if they are being valued fairly. How do you think this news plays at ESPN and also the industry writ large? Advertisement Marchand: Jealousy is a real thing. Especially when Stephen A.'s top topic is … Stephen A. When folks have to fight for an extra $10,000 on a new contract, it eats at them. However, Smith's job is a lot different than most on-air people or writers. He is a personality, which is where the most money usually lands. Talk show hosts traditionally make the biggest salaries because they are not journalists but rather entertainers. Smith is in the attention business. He probably receives the most attention of anyone in sports media. And he has been largely a team guy. But Pitaro's and Magnus' jobs are not to be liked, but to do the right thing for the company. Some of these sports media salaries are so crazy that it could be argued that none of these folks should make these numbers. Quite frankly — to borrow a Stephen A., oldie but goodie — if someone wants to be paid like Stephen A., do the work that garners the same amount of attention. Deitsch: Let's end on this: There are always contracts coming up in the sports media, and that is why most large outlets have talent departments. My read on this is that Smith won't change the market as far as impacting others at ESPN or elsewhere. The high-end talent, from Tom Brady to Pat McAfee to Smith, will continue to see astronomical money. But that's a small group. I see sports media entities continuing to downscale for both front-facing and non-front-facing people. The business will get younger and leaner. How do you see it? Marchand: In a splintered, increasingly more digital sports media, the game changers with content deemed unique will stand out. But if I were ESPN, I'd pay attention to the middle class. Having quality throughout your system and having a true, strong farm system paired with the stars is the best way to win. ESPN should not forget that because it needs to decide what its brand means. Yes, it's Stephen A., but a team can't win a championship alone.
New York Times
07-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
The curious equation of Stephen A.'s new contract, plus NHL trade deadline updates
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic's daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Listen to a trade offer today. Stephen A. Smith is a magnet. For stans and detractors and general fans alike. No matter your feelings toward Smith, many people are curious to know what he's saying. Therein lies his value, which ESPN made official yesterday by agreeing to a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the TV star, as The Athletic's Andrew Marchand first reported. The massive deal comes with theoretically less work — Smith will continue his role on 'First Take,' but plans to scale back his appearances elsewhere on the network. Two important layers here, to me: I asked Andrew if this entire equation — more money for theoretically less work from Smith — made sense: 💬 'Stephen A. will remain the face of the network. His most value is on 'First Take,' because he is what viewers tune in for. On pregames, the games are the product and, you could argue, Stephen A. causes folks to tune out when it becomes more about him than the sport. Stephen A. has had two careers at ESPN: The first one ended with him being let go, because he didn't have his delivery completely down. This second act, he has it fully together. Plus, what should be respected about Stephen A. — if you like him or not — is that he works hard.' Smith is the definition of polarization in the sports world, and that draws eyeballs. The money follows. Need more evidence? Just look at the comment section of Andrew's report. Make sure to subscribe to the MoneyCall newsletter for more from Dan Shanoff next week. Onward: A busy L.A. day The Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts are close to agreeing on a new contract which would be the richest ever for a MLB manager, sources confirmed to The Athletic, which only seems fitting after Roberts' second ring in five seasons. The news came hours after the club said Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound has been slowed a bit to give him more time to heal from offseason shoulder surgery. It's a luxury to have the incredible depth which allows you to slow-play your all-world pitcher's return, right? Advertisement NFL market latest The Seattle Seahawks continue to listen to offers on star wideout DK Metcalf, though general manager John Schneider said yesterday there's no guarantee Metcalf gets dealt. Sounds like a good negotiation tactic to me. One wide receiver, Christian Kirk, does find himself on a new team after Jacksonville sent him to Houston for a draft pick. Oh, and the Bengals gave standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, which should tell us a deal with receiver Tee Higgins should come at some point this offseason. Check out Scoop City break down Metcalf's possible future. More news 📫 Love the Pulse? Check out our other newsletters. Remember when the Avalanche stunned hockey by trading Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes just two months ago? Shocking and all that. Well, Rantanen could be on the move again after rebuffing a contract extension offer from Carolina. It sets up what could be a wild NHL trade deadline, set for 3 p.m. ET today. Let's start with what happened yesterday: Now, for the two big prizes on our latest Trade Board: Just keep our live blog open today. I hope your team gets a winner. The Athletic Hockey Show has a preview of the key teams to watch. 📺 NCAAW: Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 South Carolina Noon ET on ESPN Nothing embodies March more than important midday basketball on your TV/laptop while you 'work.' The defending champs have not been perfect this year, but remain the best team in the SEC, where the conference tournament has become enormously important. Big Dance seeding on the line here. 📺 NCAAM: South Florida vs. No. 16 Memphis 9 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 This isn't a spectacular matchup, per se, but I'm curious to get a glimpse at Penny Hardaway's crew, which has won 13 of its last 14 games and sits as a No. 7 seed right now in our bracket projection. The Tigers could be a fun pick to make a run in the Tournament. Get tickets to games like these here. How does your NFL team actually perform in free agency? Daniel Popper has every answer you can imagine. Dive in here. Mariners top executive Jerry DiPoto has been roasted plenty for his interviews. He admitted this one, with Sam Blum, will fall in that category, too. De'Aaron Fox arrived in San Antonio this season with gaudy expectations surrounding him. Now? It's been a weird couple of months. Advertisement What do international soccer teams actually think of the 2025 Club World Cup? Our UK staff has answers. Take a trivia break and test yourself on this week's news. I will be disappointed if you fail. Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Dan Robson's excellent column explaining why Canadians are stung by Wayne Gretzky's political silence. Most-read on the website yesterday: ☝️
