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ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith is facing backlash following his remarks about MLB player Shohei Ohtani, who is Japanese.
On Monday’s edition of ESPN “First take, “ Smith commented on the Los Angeles Angels outfielder and pitcher using an interpreter when speaking to the media.
“When you talk about an audience that gravitates around the subway or the stadium to watch you, OK, I don’t think it helps that the # 1 face is a dude who needs a performer so you can understand what he is. saying, ”Smith said.
The reaction from social media was swift.
Great thing about #MLB there are no forced narratives down the throats of fans. Baseball is a global game. Ohtani, Tatis Jr, Mookie, Judge are all faces for the game. MLB thrives @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/b5Sr0mqFrS
– Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) July 12, 2021
I’m going to take it all off since First Take is re-broadcasting on ESPN 2 right now, but here’s another item pic.twitter.com/FpXTkUvBW6
– CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) July 12, 2021
Former host of the “SportsCenter” Keith Olbermann tweeted in a thread that Smith should be suspended and apologized for his comments.
I supported @stephenasmith when he grew up @espn and when he didn’t, and when he was right and when he was wrong.
But this, about Shohei Ohtani, is downright racism in an age of dangerous anti-Asian violence.
It requires an apology and a suspension. Now. pic.twitter.com/dgYRUxWdvI
– Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 12, 2021
“I mean, imagine something even vaguely like that, said of any black athlete or female athlete or even an athlete who doesn’t talk to the media, by no one else. The commentator would have already been fired, ”Olbermann said.
Olbermann too shared a video Ohtani, who leads the league in the circuits this year, speaking English as he accepted an award from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America two years ago.
Black-smith, which was previously suspended by the network on remarks of domestic violence, then posted a video on Twitter saying people had misinterpreted his comments on Ohtani.
Smith said he was “talk about the marketing and promotion of sport “and that it”This is exactly what Sports Illustrated was essentially alluding to in their article last month when they talked about the fact that 28% of Major League Baseball players were foreign players. Many of them need translators. “
On my previous comments on Ohtani pic.twitter.com/FM0vnDDXBB
– Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 12, 2021
When contacted for comment, ESPN highlighted the video of Smith explaining his remarks.
Smith’s remarks come amid the fallout from ESPN host Rachel Nichols’ comments to coworker Maria Taylor in which Nichols criticized the company’s decision to promote Taylor as the main host of the mid-show. – NBA time of the sports network.
Nichols, who was the primary secondary reporter for NBA coverage, has been demoted from her post and replaced by Malika Andrews, who is black.
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