Screamin' A. Smith out at ESPN?

Today we call it Archeology.

Or maybe the Curse Of Oak Island.

 

I’ll take Czabe any day over this.

 

I know I'm not the demographic, but he's unwatchable. His show was on in the tire shop when I was having some work done a couple of weeks ago and he and Kellerman were screaming at each other about whether Mahomes or Watson was the NFL MVP. No one is that passionate on the topic, especially after Week 5. It all seemed so contrived.

 

Agreed. Happens all the time. Turning sports into a wing of identity politics has made the sports media more miserable. The athletes too.

But, beyond that, the money in the sports creates this high level intensity at all times. Athletes and coaches walk around smug and grim all the time - you’d think the money would lighten them up, but it doesn’t, it makes them sour and burdened - the media is usually looking to poke a stick or fire someone.

 

Totally agree with this. He used to annoy me. I now find him entertaining as hell. (The show with Kellerman is borderline unwatchable, though.)

 

Here’s the thing — he’s a smart guy who can have really well thought out and nuanced opinions. But he’s content to play a fictional role for the money and that deserves at least a little scorn.

 

Agreed, but the difference is - at least the times I've seen him the last few years and not since Skip skipped out for Fox's money - Stephen A. knows he's playing a role, and has a better sense than a POS like Skip does when to dump it and be himself. Skip would make Vince McMahon proud for his ability to never break character ... unless he really doesn't realize how foolish he comes across and is always this way.

But "Embrace debate" and "contrarian for contrarian's sake" sucks. Always did, always will. They can claim it makes money, but that doesn't validate the format IMO.

 

Can't watch the guy. If he's on, I'll turn it off. Then again, just about anything on ESPN that's not a game, I turn off.

Talking Heads have nothing to say that's worth my time. Who cares what his opinion is? Certainly not I.

 

SAS is a great listen for 20-30 minutes if you're driving across the country. Fantastic. I couldn't take three hours of it.

I'm generally a Cowherd guy, especially during the NFL season. He's my demo.

 

Smith's contract is rooted in a number of things, including his excellent NBA contacts and the fact that he's a known quantity. ESPN knows all his strengths and weaknesses, he's probably a decent teammate, and, if you've already moved the furniture around to accommodate his personality, why move it around again for someone else you don't know? It's not unlike Chris Berman, who I can't stand.

I heard it once about a columnist. "Yeah, he's a pain in the ass, he's got issues, but they all do, and at least we know his."