Article: Dan Le Batard: Stephen A. Smith’s ‘problem is not actually with me, it’s with what Jemele Hill said’
Introduction
Dan Le Batard and Stephen A. Smith have had a long-standing history of differences and criticisms towards each other. Le Batard caused quite a stir in the sports media world earlier this year when he openly expressed his disdain for what Smith and Skip Bayless have done to sports television. Despite their differences, Le Batard still managed to offer some praise for Smith on Monday’s edition of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. However, he also responded to Smith’s annoyance that ESPN is always open for discussion on the Meadowlark Media airwaves.
Smith’s Comments on Le Batard
Last Wednesday, Smith made some pointed comments about Le Batard on The Stephen A. Smith Show. He suggested that Le Batard had been busy with accounting and questioned his involvement with the show Highly Questionable, where Le Batard’s father also appeared. Smith seemed amazed that Le Batard, who has lamented the state of affairs in the industry, would criticize an employer he once accepted money from. These remarks from Smith were played by Le Batard on his own show.
Le Batard’s Response to Smith’s Comments
Le Batard dismissed Smith’s claims that he was debating his father on Highly Questionable, laughing them off as baseless. Le Batard also took issue with Smith’s criticism that he constantly laments an employer from whom he once took money. Le Batard acknowledged that he had voiced criticism of ESPN while working for them, but he understood why Smith would arrive at that particular viewpoint. Le Batard played a clip from an interview he had conducted with Jemele Hill over two years ago. He believed that Smith’s real problem was not with him, but with what Hill had said on their shared platform.
Hill’s Statements and Smith’s Objections
The clip Le Batard played featured Hill discussing the false narrative surrounding their show and ESPN’s preference for Black faces over Black voices. Hill mentioned that they were reacting to a particular moment when people didn’t want to hear any political, racial, or social justice talk, even though it wasn’t a regular occurrence on their show. Hill argued that ESPN allowed false narratives to persist and let certain individuals control the conversation, like Clay Travis. Le Batard believes that Smith has taken issue with the phrase “They wanted Black faces, not Black voices” used by Hill in the clip.
Le Batard’s Perspective and Invitation
Le Batard expressed his understanding of why Smith might be bothered by that particular insult. However, he made it clear that Smith’s problem wasn’t actually with him. Le Batard suggested that Smith should publicly address his objections with Hill since she made the statement, rather than directing them towards Le Batard. He also pointed out that, in his book, Smith writes about waking up every day thinking of ways to make money for the company and how he is the one ESPN throws out there when conflicts of interest arise. Le Batard invited Smith to have a discussion in a form that wasn’t centered around winning an argument or engaging in a debate, but rather to talk like human beings.
Conclusion
The ongoing differences between Dan Le Batard and Stephen A. Smith continue to be a topic of discussion in the sports media world. Le Batard responded to Smith’s recent criticisms and highlighted that Smith’s problem is not actually with him, but with what Jemele Hill said on their shared platform. Le Batard hopes to have a productive conversation with Smith as human beings, rather than engaging in a confrontational argument. Only time will tell if these two media personalities can find common ground or if their differences will persist.