During an appearance on SportsCenter Tuesday night, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, despite having job that pays him a seven figure salary to talk about sports, complained about having to travel throughout this NBA season to cover NBA games because there are too many blowouts. He told SportsCenter John Anderson:
I have no problem with you and others, particularly fans, enjoying the game. I love the game of basketball. The difference between me and all y’all is that you have this beautiful, comfortable, immaculate studio that you work from. Unfortunately, I have to go on the road and travel throughout the season to watch one lopsided contest after another, because Kevin Durant decided to tilt the balance of power…
…Don’t get me started about how enjoyable this season is. The Finals are going to be epic, assuming it’s San Antonio – Golden State (Ed note: this is impossible, as they both play in the Western Conference) or Golden State – Cleveland. Everybody else, as far as I’m concerned, they’re just playing for third, fourth or fifth place, (Ed note: shouldn’t this be fourth, fifth and sixth, as you already mentioned three teams?) which isn’t that much exciting to me (sic). I’m sorry, I don’t blame the fans, I certainly don’t blame you, but y’all don’t have to catch connecting flights and travel all year long just to watch blowouts. That would happen to be me.”
After hearing that, we thought it would be a fun exercise to note certain instances when Stephen A. Smith complained about other people complaining. Among other things, Stephen A. does not like when people complain about:
- The NBA’s new dress code (via an October 23, 2005 Philadelphia Inquirer column)…
The easy culprit, of course, is Hunter. He’s the guy who runs the NBPA, the one with a prosecutor’s background instead of a labor negotiator’s. But that’s the obvious, simplistic way out of things. The bigger, more appropriate culprits are the players, all of whom should be ashamed for complaining now when they could have done something about it earlier.
- “Shows” of some sort…
We complain. Think of the shows that would still be on the air today if we were vocal and active in our support. But we never do it. A Shame
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 22, 2009
- The media’s coverage of Michael Jackson (He is NOT referring to Michael Jordan here)…
And I don't want to hear a single damn person complaining about the media's coverage of MJ. Complain about his disgrace of a father.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 29, 2009
- His yelling…
@lozotweets Well, work on it. and I've got bad news for you: Folks have told me I've stopped yelling considerably. Find another complaint.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 14, 2010
- What they don’t know…
@Sidnickels I'm calling it how it is based on a league I've covered for 14 years. Instead of whining about what you don't know, try 2 learn!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) February 27, 2011
- Having a job to do…
@pvanspartyon Cool! So we both have jobs and we're doing them. Be happy about it and stop whining.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 3, 2011
- Him talking about Tim Tebow too much if he has only talked about Tebow for a grand total of five minutes…
Actually, we've talked Tebow a grand total of 5 minutes,@OlegZeltser. Stop whining.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 30, 2011
- Having limited followers, if the person complaining is Michael Kay…
Before I forget ladies and gentlemen, please my sure to follow my man, @RealMichaelKay so he can stop whining about his limited followers:-)
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 19, 2012
- Being a hurt player during an NFL game if such player is riding a bike on the sidelines instead of playing (referring to Jay Cutler)…
@nflplayoff think some of his teammates were hurting? It's football. You play until you can't play. You don't ride a bicycle and complain
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 24, 2011
- Derrick Rose…
And btw, I'm sick of folks whining about D-Rose. I say the dude is 3rd best PG in a 30-team league and ya'll act … http://t.co/GcnTyXCI
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) February 5, 2012
- Realness and honesty…
Those are the same folks who'd complain about peeps not being real enough, @BTroyXXL. Tell'em to appreciate honesty. Stop Whining!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 14, 2012
- First Take, when Stephen and Skip are being wack….
@youngmuladoe Spare me! Stop whining and turn the damn channel. Simple!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 1, 2012
- The fact that he bashes the Knicks even though he is a Knicks fan…
@CheyenneTweets awww, stop whining!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 6, 2013
- The inescapable realities of life…
And stop sending messages to youngsters by whining and moaning over inescapable realities @Davis007n. They need truth, not pipe dreams.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 30, 2015
That's just real talk, @Davis007n. I'm sick and tired of US whining about stuff you know is real and applies across the board.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 30, 2015
- Skip Bayless neglecting to respond to their tweets…
Stop whining,@CDPlayaa4. Skip can't respond to everyone and neither can your nor I. Folks need to stop finding stuff to complain about.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) February 16, 2012
- The “Embrace Debate” format of First Take (via The Sporting News):
SN: TV critics such as Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated loathe the “Embrace Debate” format. Your response?
SMITH: It’s a bit disingenuous on the part of people who complain…
- Him not giving the Warriors any respect…
@ShaneShooter707 Stop Whining 🙂
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 25, 2015
- That there is no penalty called for roughing the quarterback if person complaining is a quarterback who is subjected to many uncalled late hits (via First Take, October 31, 2016)…
Even though there have been some calls missed against [Cam Newton], there have been calls that have been missed against other quarterbacks. I don’t see them up there, on the podium, at the press conference, complaining…
