Tag: stephen a. smith

Rangers ‘don’t count’ as ESPN’s ‘First Take’ dismisses NHL

Stephen A. Smith does not care one iota about hockey.

Michael Kay, the voice of the Yankees and drive-time radio host for ESPN New York, joined Smith on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday.

Kay was posed the question as to which New York professional sports team would be the next one to win a championship, and he answered the Rangers, who are 35-17-9 this season and just acquired Patrick Kane from the Blackhawks.

“Oh Lord,” sighed Smith.

Host Molly Qerim informed Kay that “They don’t count!”

Smith said, as he has before, that “the only thing I know about hockey is that the puck is black and I love [NHL commissioner] Gary Bettman — that’s my buddy, who I always go to the hockey games with.”

ESPN is one of the NHL’s television partners along with TNT.

Qerim said that it was no disrespect to the Rangers or Kane but politely asked Kay to pick another team.

Kay responded by splitting the baby: “Yankees or the Mets — one of those two.”


Patrick Kane speaking to reporters Thursday for the first time since the Rangers traded for him.
Mollie Walker

The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from the Blackhawks this week.
The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from the Blackhawks this week.
Getty Images

Smith acted as though it was blasphemous for Kay, who has called Yankees games on TV or radio for over 30 years, to suggest that the Mets might hoist the World Series trophy before the Bombers.

The Mets, owned by Steve Cohen, the wealthiest owner in Major League Baseball, have had a torrid offseason.


ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (l.) and Molly Qerim (c.) dismissed hockey on Thursday’s “First Take.”
ESPN

They signed Justin Verlander to a two-year deal worth $86.7 million and Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million deal.

They also acquired pitcher Jose Quintana, reliever David Robertson and outfielder Tommy Pham.

The Mets furthermore retained outfielder Brandon Nimmo on an eight-year, $162 million deal plus closer Edwin Diaz for five years and a total of $102 million.


Mets owner Steve Cohen has opened up his wallet for a massive spending spree this offseason.
Newsday via Getty Images

This season, the Mets and Yankees are both listed at +750 to win the World Series on BetMGM.

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Stephen A. Smith no longer wants to be portrayed by Will Smith

Stephen A. Smith’s idea for who should play him in an eventual biopic changed with the Slap Heard ‘Round the World.

Smith appeared on Comedy Central’s “Hell of A Week with Charlamagne Tha God” on Thursday and was asked about who should portray him in the eventual movie.

“Dammit it would’ve been Will Smith before the slap!” Smith said. “But I can’t go with him now.”

At this year’s Academy Awards, Smith bristled at a joke that Chris Rock made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia and proceeded to walk up to the stage and slap the comedian in the face.

For this behavior, Smith has effectively been placed in the Hollywood penalty box indefinitely.

Charlamagne interjected that Will Smith would be back one day: “He ain’t going nowhere.”

“Listen. He’s Will Smith. We know he’s gonna be back,” Smith responded. “We got love for him. But you just don’t do something like that. You know what I’m saying? Stephen A. wouldn’t do something like that.”

So, who is not disqualified from the role?

“Michael B. Jordan. Omari Hardwick,” Smith suggested. “They both look a hell of a lot better than me but dammit I’m stealing from them so what do you want me to do?”

Stephen A. Smith wanted Will Smith to play him in a biopic — until the Chris Rock slap.
Ismail @Calligrafist
Will Smith was banned from the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock onstage in March, but he is still able to be nominated and win one.
AFP via Getty Images

Smith said his friend Jamie Foxx would’ve been another choice, because Foxx is trying to do “Tyson,” a biopic of boxer Mike Tyson.

Charlamagne said that Foxx does a great Stephen A. impression.

“He does Tyson exceptionally well,” Smith said. “He does me aight.”

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