Stephen A Smith Got Out The Heavy-Duty Tin Foil For His New Hat

I’ll be honest, I am not a Stephen A Smith Fan. The only thing I respect him for is his loyalty to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other than that, his opinions often run from the moronic to the delusional, with a steady dose of the offensive mixed in.

Last week, an FBI investigation resulted in Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones being arrested over their alleged participation in two major illegal gambling schemes — one involving bets placed on NBA games, the other involving underground poker games with organized crime involvement that included members of Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese mob families.

Joseph Nocella, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, explained that NBA “insiders” such as Rozier and Jones worked with organized crime groups and passed on confidential information in exchange for a cut of the profits.

“They relied on corrupt individuals, including Jones and Rozier. They also used misused information obtained during long-standing friendships they had with NBA players and coaches.”

In other words, they would use inside information as betting fodder. For example, if someone was not going to play due to an undisclosed game-time injury, bettors may choose to bet on the other team or the under.

However, out of the bust of an illegal gambling ring, Smith sees a way to blame President Trump for what he sees as the execution of a conspiracy of criminal investigations against the cultural sports of black Americans.  Smith notes the NBA, NFL, and WNBA are all likely targets of a vast FBI sting operation, intended to target people of color who are engaged in sports and conducting criminal activity.  There’s also the possibility of Russians being involved in the setup. 

I know, I know. He actually said that out loud. Even knowing and admitting that the individuals WERE conducting criminal activity, because they were black, it had to be Trump and, of course, the Russians.

Smith made his ridiculous accusations on the fast-fading ESPN network during the “First Take” show. Smith, with his heavy-duty tin foil hat firmly in place, stated that President Trump is “coming” after the FBI announcement.

FBI Director Kash Patel ridiculed Smith for even suggesting that President Trump was behind the arrests.

“I’m the FBI director. I decide which arrest to conduct and which not to conduct,” Patel told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history. And I live most of my time in Washington, DC. It’s right up there with Adam Schiff. We arrest people for crimes.”

According to the FBI, the gambling activities netted upward of $7 million over two years.

Smith continued to blather on, attempting to justify his stupidity:

“I would say he’s the director of the FBI. Let’s just say I’m not trying to get on his bad side. But having said that, I still stand by what I said. And I’m not changing my mind. … In the interest of being real and making you understand who I am as a journalist and a commentator spanning 30 years, I just want you all to know that it’s customary for people to say I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, that I’m off my damn rocker, only to come down the pike weeks, months later and say, ‘Yeah, it was true’ or the facts bear those things out.”

“This investigation has been going on when [Joe] Biden was in office. They talked about how this stuff has been going on since 2019, which is when Trump was in office. I’m not implying that Kash Patel doesn’t have any legitimacy to the case that he’s pursuing against these individuals … and I’m not about to argue with an FBI director. I’m simply making the point that in the end, you have a president in place that has a lengthy connection to the sports world, rife with friends and enemies. And those who are his enemies, he doesn’t mind inconveniencing one bit. And when it comes to the NBA brand, it doesn’t bother him.”

Huh?

After Billups and Rozier were indicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, the NBA placed both on leave pending the result of the investigation.

I have a theory on why this particular case of “Smith Stupidity” has emerged. Smith has made no secret of the fact that he believes President Trump is targeting black athletes with these actions, so since he opened that racist can of worms, I am going to trace it back to what I believe to be its origins.

Last week, after the street thug Jasmine Crockett, who pretends to be a politician, spewed forth more of her vile rhetoric against President Trump, Smith went on record against her manner of speech.

“When I point to a Jasmine Crockett, it’s because here’s what I know. All I ever hear her doing is going off about Trump. Ladies and gentlemen, can I tell you what my belief is? I have no desire to be a politician. Let me reiterate that, and I appreciate House Leader, Democratic leader Hakeim Jeffrey speaking to me in the way that he did by saying that I speak with the frustration of the American people because you damn right I do. Let me tell you what gets me annoyed, and I hope Jasmine Crockett is listening to this, and by the way, she’s welcome on the show.”

“When you go on national television and you’re calling the president of the United States out of his name and you’re being all disrespectful as a representative in this country, do you believe the citizens of Texas sent you there to do that? They don’t like him either. I’m talking about those who voted for her in all likelihood. But because he is who he is and he is in that position, they expect you to go to Capitol Hill and figure out a way to maneuver yourself through that terrain to work in a fashion that’s going to facilitate getting things done on behalf of your constituents. That’s your job! That’s your job!”

“Excuse my language on SiriusXM, but it ain’t your job to say, ‘He ain’t shit. He ain’t worth a damn.’ That’s not your job. Anybody could do that. You’re supposed to be figuring out a way to get things done.”

It’s rare, but Smith was right to call out Crockett. She is a vile, disrespectful punk who acts as though she is still in the hood. Her gutter mouth and gutter logic have no place in American politics.

However, shortly thereafter, he backtracked and apologized for his statements. Proving without a doubt that even if Smith is lucky enough to make a correct call, he still finishes second to a broken clock.

In my opinion, Smith’s accusations against Trump are an attempt to get himself back in good graces with the black community. In a sense, as ridiculous as it sounds, I believe that Smith feels as though he has to reestablish that he will represent black viewpoints even when they are as hateful as those that people like Crockett propagate.

This is subversive racism. People with a public platform placing racial bias over common sense and truth. Smith was right to call out Crockett and wrong to apologize for it. Then wrong again to attack Trump for unfounded, race-based reasons.

We are all Americans; the color of our skin should not determine our loyalties. Saint Augustine said, “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”

A truism Smith may have heard, but one he apparently doesn’t understand.