Stephen A. Smith has been known to say some pretty out-of-pocket things on First Take. Although he may not be as unhinged as other sports analysts, he definitely knows how to ruffle feathers. However, that is ultimately how he has been able to maintain his standing at ESPN. In the eyes of the network, he is unimpeachable. They need him in order to keep the lights on, and it allows him to get away with more than the average commentator. Overall, not everyone loves this, but it is a fact of life that must be accepted.
Today, however, it felt as though Stephen A. crossed the line, even by his standards. It all took place alongside Jay Williams at the First Take desk. The conversation was about Anthony Davis, who was elbowed in the head by Kevon Looney. Subsequently, AD was taken out of the game and was being evaluated for a concussion. Furthermore, he had to leave the arena in a wheelchair as an added precaution. Although, Williams and Smith seemed to find this amusing.
Stephen A. & Jay Williams Get Their Jokes In
In the clip above, you can see the two laughing at Anthony Davis. Moreover, Stephen A. continuously says that this is not the NFL, and downplayed the idea of Davis being hurt. Moreover, he used Davis' previous injury history as a means to clown him further. Ultimately, it felt extremely disrespectful, and fans on Twitter did not appreciate this whatsoever. After all, no one likes to see players belittled by people who have never played the game at a professional level. JJ Redick would have never made jokes like this, which makes Williams' comments even more disappointing.
Twitter Reacts
In the tweets down below, you can see what people had to say in regard to Stephen A. and Williams. For the most part, these comments were not kind. Ultimately, it just goes to show the disconnect between players, the media, and the fans. Let us know what you thought of the Anthony Davis injury, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from the sports world.