
Loading summary
Greg Rosenthal
What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Julie Swearbinks
What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
Julie Swearbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
Julie Swearbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
Nate Thompson
Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
Julie Swearbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Stephen A. Smith
What's up everybody?
Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephen A. Smith show coming at you over the Digital Airways of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. As I love to do at the very least three times a week, I want to thank y'all as always for supporting the show, particularly on YouTube where I've now eclipsed over 972,000 subscribers, rapidly approaching 1 million subscribers. Of course, I've had over a few million downloads on iHeartRadio over the last several months as well. Thank you so much for continuing to love and support the show. I really, really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart to continue to like and follow the show. Just click the bell to get notified for all of our new content and you too shall be considered the latest member of of the Stephen A. Smith show family. While you're doing that, it is the Christmas holidays after all, and I've got a New York Times best selling book out Straight Shooter, A memoir of Second Chances and First Takes now in paperback. Just go to straightshooterbook.com to get yourself a copy of that. Once again, that's straightshooterbook.com to get yourself a copy. It is not a sports book. It is a book about me, my life, my trials and tribulations and how motivational and inspirational I hope it can be to a lot of people out there who see no light at the end of the tunnel. But once you persevere and you continue to march on and climb, you'd be surprised what you end up discovering about yourself. If I sound somber, it's because I've got good reason to. And it's not because I'm sitting here before you, sick, you know, battling allergies and all of that stuff. Scratchy throat and everything like that. Winter season, traveling a lot. Obviously my health is not pristine, but I'm okay. Okay enough to be here. The somber tone is because of the news, some tragic news that broke just a few hours ago in the state of Wisconsin. A school shooting that left at least three people dead, including who police suspect is a juvenile shooter. Six others were wounded in the incident that happened at Abundant Life Christian School this morning in Madison, Wisconsin. Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes said officers who responded to a call of an active shooter at the school also found the alleged shooter dead at the scene. The suspected shooter was also a student at the school. Initial police reports said the fatalities included four victims plus the shooter. But later they lowered the number of fatalities. It's sad. It's Christmas time and there are folks who have lost loved ones. What appears to be another senseless shooting. Now, see, this is the kind of stuff that I was talking about, you know, one of the most riveting moments in my life, something that affected me. And I don't cry often, to be quite honest with you. It's just not something that I've, that I've done much of in my lifetime. I can count on one hand the amount of times tears have come streaming down my face. And I remember one of those times being when those little kids at Sandy Hook in Connecticut when Obama was in office were killed. I think it was like 21 deaths, if I remember correctly. 19 of them were children. And when you heard the descriptions of how the shooter would go one by one and would shoot a six or seven year old right in front of others their age, with those little kids knowing that they were next, it can't get more heinous than that. And so naturally, stuff like that ultimately ends up getting politicized. And people start talking about gun control or gun laws and that forces the other side to fight for their second Amendment rights. And what gets lost in the shuffle are lives lost, lives lost. And how somehow, some way, human beings who are supposed to have a heart and are supposed to have a soul can't seem to come together for the betterment of the most helpless amongst us, which are children. And when I heard the story about what transpired in Madison, Wisconsin this morning. It's a Catholic school. K to 12. We don't know yet the name. I'm sorry, it's a Christian school. I apologize. K to 12. We don't know yet the age of the victims at the moment that we're taping this show. K to 12, ladies and gentlemen. It could be a 6 or 7 year old, it could be a 9 or 10 year old. Lives lost are heinous enough at the hands of somebody who felt like being a murderer. But let's face reality. When it involves kids, it stings us a bit more significantly. And that's the kind of thing that we have to think about. And so yes, this is a show that tackles all issues. We run from nothing and we talk about everything. We try to be as informed as we possibly can. If we make mistakes, we own up to it. If we don't have all the facts, all the information necessary, we own up to that as well. But there are some things that you don't need but so much information when you find out that kids were killed, that's the bottom line and something has to be done about it. Now, I'm one of those people that I will openly confess as a registered independent. I'm stuck. On one hand, I want guns off the streets. On another hand, I'm tired of people being killed. And then we turn around and find out that folks were utterly defenseless because they weren't armed. Now obviously that's not going to be applicable in a Christian school. K to 12. What would teenagers or people that are younger be walking around with firearms for? I get that part. But how the hell that that person have a firearm and get in the school? And why was there no one there to derail that individual? Is anybody, Was anybody in the school? Arm? We don't know. We don't know the facts of that information as of yet or that situation as of yet. But those are the kind of things to me that should be debated. Whether or not having a firearm on your person is more helpful or harmful. Those are the kind of things that should be debated. I'm not getting into somebody's rights because to me, even though rights are important, it pales in comparison to someone's life. Rights are important, but not at the expense of the lives of human beings, particularly the youngest amongst us who haven't even had an opportunity to really, really live their lives as of yet. And so at least two to three people have been stripped of their life because of a juvenile shooter. Who I think is okay to call a murderer because that person killed innocent people. We don't know the gender of the shooter. We don't know the age of the shooter. We don't know the description of the shooter. We don't know the age or the descriptions or the genders of the victims. We don't know whether there was teachers killed. We don't know whether there was a police officer killed, somebody in security. We don't know all of those details at the time of this taping. That much is true. We don't know those things. And I get that and I understand it. And we have to find out more. In Sandy hook, it was 20 children, six adults. I'm going to say that again. 20 children were killed. And I remember that being politicized. I remember when President Obama at the time stood at the podium and said the name of each child and wiped a tear from his eye. And you had folks on the right accusing him of being inauthentic and phony. Like our core decency sometimes escapes us. Because I don't give a damn what your political affiliation is, what your ideology is, what your religion is, et cetera. When you hear that 20 children were killed in cold blood, it's got to hit you. And anytime I hear about a school shooting, particularly involving K to anything, let alone K to 12, I'm thinking about Sandy Hook. That's what it reminds me of. And I piggyback off of that conversation to get to this point, a point that I was discussing last week, and that was with folks online and other places celebrating the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Mr. Thompson. That was disgusting. It was appalling. And I've got people that want to come on this show to talk with me and debate me. Well, bring it on. But be prepared to sit there on a set, sitting across from me with the cameras rolling, justifying murder. Because that, in essence, is what it comes down to. I'm not throwing flowers or acting like the health care system isn't an atrocity, that it's right in any way to take advantage of American citizens. And beyond denying their cases when they.
Have legitimate health issues, when they paid.
Money into a health care plan and they denied the treatment that they deserve because of monetary reasons, because of people.
Trying to make a profit.
I understand how egregious that is. I get that. I truly, truly do. But at the end of the day, I don't give a shit what the circumstances are. You can never sit down and justify cold blooded murder.
That United Healthcare CEO was shot in the back getting out of his car, walking into a hotel. He was gunned down from behind.
He was a husband.
His wife is now a widower. He was a father. His children are. No, don't no longer have their father. We got to be careful about the things that we say and a manner in which we're willing to come across as if we're condoning something we want to say. All right, we're not. We're not condoning murder, but.
Well, wait a minute.
Cold blooded murder. Gunning somebody down, taking their life, really, when we open our mouths and we.
Say stuff like that, it can incite and spark anybody to do the same.
Anybody can have a reason. You know, one of the movies I never watched before, ladies and gentlemen, I never watched Purge. The purge. All right, 12 hours of lawlessness. You get to kill anybody you want to for 12 hours. Nah, I'm not down for that. That's devoid of civilization. That's devoid of a civilized society and the decorum and the behavior and the lawfulness that's supposed to come with it. That's not what America is supposed to be about. That's not what any place in this world should be about. Yes, there are people that's taking advantage of us. Yes, there are people that's getting over. But to me, the only excuse to.
Take somebody's life is self defense. That's it.
Under no other circumstances should killing somebody be something that we condone. At some point in time, our court decency has to come into play. It has to matter.
And if it doesn't, that really says a lot about who we are and what we're lacking than it says about anybody else.
I got some other stuff to get.
Into, but not for. I pay some bills. I'll be right back with some additional stuff to touch on in a moment. Don't go.
I need all of y'all to stop.
What you're doing and listen up.
Here at the Stephen A. Smith show.
And in everything I do, I'm in it to win it. Everyone likes to win.
That's why our show has decided to team up with Prize Picks, America's number one fantasy sports app with over 3 million members to help you turn all your sports knowledge into some big time cash. You see, Prize Picks is a daily fantasy app where you choose just between two and six players from any of the sports you love to watch and then pick more or less of their.
Projected stats for the game.
Pick Josh Allen's passing yards, Jalen Brown's total rebounds and Brock Faber's Shots on Goal all in the same entry. And because it is December, that means it's now Pixmas at Prize Picks. So be on the lookout all month for free picks, discounts and free lineups. In addition to the other great Prize Picks promotions like the Prize Picks Flex Friday promotion where you can opt in for protected play. That's right, every Friday on Prospects, find a Protect to Play option where you win or your cash back.
And that's not all.
Sign up with code SAS and Prizepix will give you $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup. You don't need to win your lineup.
To receive the $50 bonus.
It's guaranteed. All you have to do is play a $5 lineup on prize picks and.
We'Ll get you $50 instantly.
Prize picks Pick more, pick less.
It's really, really that easy.
Larison Campbell
There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange and it' terrible, terrible dirt. Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.
Stephen A. Smith
7,000 bodies out there or more, all.
Larison Campbell
Former patients of the old state asylum and nobody knew they were there.
Stephen A. Smith
It was my family's mystery.
Larison Campbell
But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets. Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information. When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.
Stephen A. Smith
The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.
Larison Campbell
I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to Under Yazu Clay on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Hunter
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered Black women and girls in America. There are several ways we can all do better at protecting Black women. My contribution is shining a light on our missing sisters and amplifying their disregarded stories. Stories like Tameka Anderson. As she drove toward Galvez, she was in contact with several people talking on the phone as she made her way to what should have been a routine transaction. But Tameka never bought the car and she never returned home that day. One Podcast, one Mission. Save our Girls Join the search as we explore the chilling cases of missing and murdered Black women and girls. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or Wherever you get your podcasts.
Stephen A. Smith
Now let's move on to some politics and social media where some of you, no surprises, you're just continuing to piss me off.
Why?
Because every time I make a comment that's critical of the Democratic Party or the left, I get accused of being a pundit for the right.
Prior to the election cycle, I voiced my concerns about Joe Biden and his.
Ability to serve as second term, a second term, rather, as president. Then Biden stepped on the debate stage in late June and revealed what many he embarrassed himself, the White House and the Democrats eventually switched to Vice President Kamala Harris when he stepped away, who ultimately ran, you know what? Some would say a valiant presidential campaign, at least in the eyes of some, that ultimately fell short with voters across the country.
I pointed out my concerns with the campaign and the Democratic Party along the way.
Julie Swearbinks
And.
Stephen A. Smith
And many of you wanted to accuse.
Me of being a voice for the right. So you know what? I feel like it's time to set.
The record straight, because ain't nobody hiding. Ain't nobody running. Okay, let me be very, very clear. I'm a registered independent because I don't trust either side. I think both sides are full of it on so many levels and so many circumstances, it's nauseating.
But I also want to take a moment because a lot of people out.
There on social media have been saying to me, here's Stephen A.
You take these positions, you frustrated with the Democratic Party, but then you vote. You voted for Kamala Harris against Trump. Why? It's very, very simple.
I believe that Donald Trump has been a divisive figure. And I was thinking coming into this election that the last thing we needed was four more years of what we saw the last time, where there was so much strife and so much division, that even though the economy clearly was doing well under his watch before COVID struck, it was just too much for the country to take. I was fearful of civil war in this country. It wasn't so much that he was supportive of white supremacists and he was this racist and all of this stuff like people were saying. I didn't engage in that incendiary rhetoric because I've always believed that Donald Trump was just somebody who did things that were politically expedient. If supporting one side was going to generate votes for him, he would flow with it. And if it was not going to.
Support his cause, he wasn't.
It's just simple. It's just that simple.
Why did I say that and why did I refrain from that incendiary rhetoric that was thrown in his direction. It was because I knew Donald Trump.
Before he ran for president, and black.
Whites, male, females, and everybody in between got along with him great. So for all of a sudden, everybody to stand up and act like he.
Was this pariah was bs.
But I was also acknowledging he didn't help his own cause from the moment in 2015 when he strolled down those escalators. Escalators with Melania. The man offended 50% of the population back then in 2015, came across as xenophobic in the eyes of many, and it just seemed to go downhill from there. So after he served his four years in the White House, I didn't want to repeat all of that, but I didn't call him a racist. I didn't compare him to Nazis. I didn't sit up there, accuse him of befriending white supremacists and all of that stuff, because I knew no matter how what people believe, they were trying to politicize it. So when I thought about him against Kamala Harris, I said, excuse me, let me make sure Republicans are in the House and the Senate. You have somebody that's going to work with both sides in the White House, and we'll have peace.
Domestically.
That's what I was thinking. But under no circumstances was I this raving supporter of Kamala Harris. I saw her during the primaries in 2020. I saw that she couldn't get to Iowa. I saw her comments about transgenders, particularly those in prison that wanted sex changes. I saw how incoherent she appeared in communicating what her objective would be when it came to the economy. I know for a fact that she was supposed to oversee the issues involving the border. Yes, like Roland Martin said, she wasn't the, quote, unquote, border czar, but she was perceived as such. Also saw going to view and categorically deny that there was any need to change anything that Biden had done, Even though over 12 million people crossed the border illegally. And you were acting like there was no border crisis. I saw the duplicit ascendancies.
I saw the inconsistencies.
I also saw the hypocrisy. And as the election came about and ultimately unfolded, and I saw Donald Trump win convincingly. No, he did not get 50% of the popular vote, as the Democrats are so quick to point out. My attitude to them is, shut the hell up. Nobody wants to hear that now. Who cares whether he got 50% of the vote or not? He beat you in the popular vote and the Electoral College.
Vote.
He swept the swing states. He improved his numbers in every demographic imaginable. Blacks, Hispanics, women. He beat you. And the American people spoke, and they spoke flagrantly. And from that moment forward, I'm like, damn all of that. We gonna support the fact that he won the presidency. And I'm gonna tell you where I'm at with it. And that doesn't mean I'm gonna become some registered Republican, because I'm still. I still find them a bit shaky. But when I see Attorney Bragg in New York trying to treat. Trying to convince the judge and the courts to treat Donald Trump as if he's deceased, as if he has died, just to make sure that your convictions on those 34 felony accounts remains a part of the record, it just shows another level of patheticness. If that is such a word that creeps in once again, you can't let it go. He is the President Elect of the United States of America. In January 20, he is going to be the President of the United States. And you want to sit up here and waste taxpayer dollars and literally go before the courts to do everything he can to make his conviction a matter of record, knowing he ain't gonna get any jail time. You're not gonna be able to incarcerate him. You're not gonna be able to find him, sir. It's over. It's over. Democrats. It's over. It's over. I'm gonna say this before, and I'll say it again. You know what I would do if I were Joe Biden, President Joe Biden, especially since I basically gave the Democratic Party the finger, because you kept saying, saying, we follow the rule of law. We follow the rule of law. We follow the rule of law. And then you went and you circumvented all of that to get to pardon your son Hunter, since you were willing to do that. If I was President Joe Biden, I.
Would pardon Donald Trump. I'm going to say it again.
I would pardon Donald Trump for one reason and one reason only. To move the hell on. Enough's enough. Enough's enough. You tried to get him. If you. Nancy Pelosi, you tried to get him. If you. Chuck Schumer, you tried to get him. If you were the Dems in the Senate and the House, you tried to get him. If you were the FBI, you tried to get him. If you were the Department of Justice, you tried to get him. I mean, damn Russian collusion. What happened? See, we keep talking and talking and talking, and all we see at the end of the Day is that you inconvenience Donald Trump and you caused him headaches, probably forced him to take a few.
A few doses of Motrin or Tylenol.
That's all you did. You ain't doing anything else to him. He is back in the White House next month. All that shit y'all did, all the stuff you pulled, you had your surrogates out there, your pundits out there, you had. You engaged in lawfare. You did everything and you convinced the American people, yo, his ass belongs in jail.
And where are you going instead? Back to the White House.
So, of course, when you see that preponderance of evidence that ultimately hits us with the reality is that no matter how hard you try, whatever mechanisms you put in place, whatever, you know, tactics you utilize, it all amounted to nothing. Joe Biden, they caught him sleeping at an African conference in Angola.
Donald Trump, wide away going back to the White House.
Peggy Noonan, an outstanding columnist for the Wall Street Journal, wrote about the unprecedents that exist with a president elect who's usually chilling. They're normally only making news when there are headlines announcing that Cabinet members. Yet Donald Trump is walking around like he's president now. In France recently for the reopening, was it the Notre Dame Cathedral, talking to Zelensky for Ukraine, no doubt. Putin for Russia, talking to Benjamin Netanyahu with the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Look at what is happening every time. There is substantive stuff to talk about in the world of politics. Donald Trump's name is the headline instead of President Joe Biden. Y'all lost the Democrats. You've lost. You got your ass kicked in every way imaginable. And why am I saying it like that? It's not because of the election. It's because of what's still happening. Every single other day, this man is making headlines about political issues that are supposed to be dominated by President Biden and the White House. It's not happening. It's him. If that ain't definitive evidence that you have lost and it is time to lick your wounds, look in the mirror, and revisit all of those tactics you tried to exercise clearly in an effort to keep him out of the White House, it's now.
Maybe you shouldn't have adopted woke culture, embraced woke culture and woke ideology the way that you should to the LGBTQ community. Anybody with decency should support you and your right to live your life.
But I didn't hear the right talking.
About the LGBT community in general and painting everybody with a broad brush. I heard them addressing transgender Issues in terms of somebody electing to change their gender, participating men, transitioning into women but competing with women. Now we can get into the nuances.
And the particulars about it, and the Democrats can sit up there and say that the Republicans are misrepresenting their positions and vice versa and what have you. Here's the bottom line. They were successful in disseminating whatever they wanted their message to be to the masses. Better than you were. You lost and you're still walking around here, evidenced by the latest from attorney Bragg in New York State, evidence by him trying to keep the conviction alive. What is that going to resolve? Donald Trump felony convictions. It's a matter of record. Wow. I mean, you're really accomplishing great things there, huh?
He ain't going to prison. He not even. He's not even forced to keep on an ankle bracelet and be confined to his home, which is a resort, by the way. Mar a Lago in Florida. Oh, no. He's going back to the White House and he travels back to Mar a Lago at his discretion whenever he damn well pleases. You lost. Let it go.
When we want to talk about whether or not I want to be a.
Republican or whatever, listen, there are conservative issues that I adamantly support. I support lower taxes. I support free market capitalism. I support controlling our borders. Absolutely. And I'm a big, big dude on national security. I ain't apologizing for that to anybody on those issues. I'm conservative.
What am I Liberal on?
Live and let live. Social issues. Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, gay, you know, lesbian, whatever.
It's your life.
And I'm certainly down for looking out for the desolate and disenfranchised. You're a minority community in this country. You need help. I'm down for it.
You're poor and impoverished.
We're only as strong as our weakest link, the elderly. We should always revere and honor and look out for them because they contributed to our society long before we got older and it was our turn to do so. On that note, it is what it is. That's why I'm an independent. I flow with either side. But what I don't like about the Democratic Party at this particular moment in time, you keep walking around on your moral high horse, acting like you're above reproach. You're President Biden. He's my son. That's all you had to say. I can't let my son go to jail. I'm sorry. America. Simple. But instead, you try to get on your high horse and act like they were after him because of you and tried to make it into something political. Stop. This is what the Democrats repeatedly do and you've gotten away with it for far too long. I've never been a fan of Elizabeth Warren for one reason and one reason only. I know her heart's in the right place. I know she's smart as a whip. I know she's very capable. My only problem with her is that.
If you don't agree with her, you're going to hell.
Something must be wrong with your soul to disagree with her. That bothers me. I looked at Obama, former President Barack Obama, my president, who I admire and.
Revere and watched him talk to black.
Men like that and accuse of us of misogynistic tendencies because we may not be supporting Kamala Harris. How come it couldn't be her policies we supported?
Hillary.
Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sick of it. Sick of the Democrats walking around like they have such a higher moral compass, a higher moral foundation than everybody else. No. Enough of that demagoguery. Enough of that fear mongering. No. Your behinds need to go out there and learn the politic better to win. Make sure your issues are better.
Make sure you're capable of doing a better job.
Westmore, Governor of Maryland. You'd have my vote tomorrow, my brother. But guess what, ladies and gentlemen, I also like Byron Donald, representative out of Florida. That's where I'm at with it.
I'd love for Westmore to be the.
President, United States of 2028. I'd love for Byron Donald to be the next governor of Florida. There, I said it. If that ain't independence, I don't know what is. But I'm sick of all of this. I really am. Democrats, you lost. You got your butts whipped. Own it, live with it, accept it, embrace it. And look in the damn mirror and stop acting like the problem lies with others. It lies with you. Your messengers were weak. Your message was weaker. And I know that because the American people said so in droves. Own it and get off your moral high horse. I want to follow up. I'm moving on. I want to follow up on a story we've been talking about on the podcast since last week. It involves Jay Z. The one and only. Jay Z, also known as Shawn Carter, was attached to a civil lawsuit filed last week accusing him and Sean Diddy Combs of raping a 13 year old more than 20 years ago. The alleged incident happened back in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after party. Carter immediately came out swinging his defense of course, saying criminal charges should be filed against anyone who would commit such a heinous crime. His defense attorneys also filed motions to name the victim, who is now 38 years old, or to drop the suit altogether. Meanwhile, Carter's lead attorney, Alex Spiro, pointed out inconsistencies in the alleged victim's story, who sat down with NBC News last week in an exclusive interview. Among the inconsistencies he noted were the Jane Doe's description of the home doesn't match any of Sean Combs properties at the time.
Spiral also says Jane Doe claimed she snuck out the house to attend the VMAs and watched on a Jumbotron outside.
Well, MTV did not construct the jumbotron for the 2000 VMAs. Again, this is all according to Jay Z's attorney, who spoke out today.
Here's the point.
What really, really happened is that NBC News reported leading into the weekend that the alleged victim admitted inconsistencies with what she had initially said. Now, she didn't come out and say that mean that what happened to her didn't happen in fairness to her. But there are inconsistencies.
And as I said before, I'm not.
Here to cast aspersions on her or anything like that. That would be irresponsible.
Nor am I here to cast aspersions on a lawyer.
I'll leave Jay Z and his team to do all of that. What I said to people is what I'll say one more time. I've known the man for 25 years and I've never, ever, ever seen anything that would indicate that he would be guilty of such a thing. And some people are sitting up there saying, man, Stephen ain't full of it. What do you mean you don't know?
All right, fine.
There are people that got family members that commit heinous acts and they would have never imagined it. Fair enough. But folks are sitting there and they're talking about, well, you know, Stephen A. I mean, who the hell is he? And you talk about a friend. What kind of friend are you really? I've known for 25 years. I know OG Juan is right hand just as long I've known Michael Kaiser. I've known my boy Spank Gary Stevens. I've known plenty of people who have been around and have befriended them. We've all been around each other together. Not that I have to justify to anybody, but I'm gonna set the record straight on one damn thing once and for all. This is Stephen a baby. I'm not somebody working and not to discredit anybody that does do this, because as long as you earn this honest living, I got nothing but mad respect for you. But I love how people talk to me like, oh, my Lord, I must be jock sniffin. And you know, because of the stars, excuse me, I am a star in this business. This is what I do. And I'm not working some 9 to 5 in the post office or somewhere else where I never get an opportunity to be around these people, these people at sports events all the time. I've gotten to know these people because they made it a priority to get to know me, because they love sports. I wouldn't accuse them of sniffing just because they wanted to get to know me. Just because you don't like my opinion or you might disagree with where I'm coming from doesn't mean that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about or that I have no connections with people. I have a connection with lots of people because I'm Stephen A. Because my day job involves me working for the worldwide leader, which everyone happens to watch. You see these cats when they in concert, whether it's a rap artist, it's a comedian. You see sports figures when they're performing. You just happen to see me every weekday over the number one sports network in the world, which, by the way, is the number one show for the last 13 years. Come this April, that would be me. So the next time y'all want to run your mouth and act like, oh, my God, what does he know? Does he know Jay Z or whatever? Yes, I know him. Yes, I do. 40. 40. I used to go there religiously just to walk upstairs and go in the back and hang out with him and.
The crew to watch games.
I've known him for 25 years, and.
I don't believe.
That he's capable of something like this.
That's all.
I have no evidence.
I'm not casting any Asperger's on the accuser or their lawyer or anything like that. I'm just telling you I got a.
Right to speak up for somebody that I've known that long to say, that's not what I see when I see.
Him and I'm a repeat and end.
Here by saying what I said to y'all last week. If someone were to ever accuse me of such a thing, I would hope that people who have known me for decades would sit up there and say, hell, no, not Stephen A. Because if they were quiet, it would hurt me. I'd be like, you have nothing to say in my defense, nothing. You just gonna leave me hanging like that?
I'm not casting you to cast. I'm not asking you to cast dispersions on anybody else.
I'm simply saying you just gonna leave.
Me hanging like that?
See, that's the punk ass world we live in now.
Where folks are literally scared to say, remember, you're not casting. You're not sitting up there and saying somebody's innocent. You're not saying somebody else is lying. You're not doing anything like that.
You're saying, that's a friend that I've known for X amount of years. I don't believe that's in them.
You can't say that.
That's the punk ass world we living in where people scared cause they worried.
About their jobs and everything else to speak up for somebody. But then it was okay when Roger Goodell in the National Football League put out a statement saying they're aware of the allegations but they're still moving forward. We're working with Roc Nation and Jay Z with the super bowl halftime show, then it was okay. So the conglomerate, the big fish, the mammoth that is the National Football League, they could speak up then it's okay. They just started doing business with Jay.
Z a few years ago, but somebody that's been around it for 25 years can. Y'all full of it. Y'all are just full of it.
Coming up, unidentified flying objects are hovering over parts of New York and New Jersey.
If you could believe, believe it.
Should we be concerned? I'll get into that.
But first, Josh Allen put on the show in Detroit. So has he locked up the MVP race? I'll get into that. Plus, Stephen Jackson from the all the Smoke podcast had something to say about me. I'll show you what he said. And I'll show you my response too. All of that up next right here on the Stephen A. Smith show over the Digital Airways with YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. Back with more in a minute.
Larison Campbell
There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo clay. It's thick, burnt orange and it's got a reputation.
Stephen A. Smith
It's terrible, terrible dirt.
Larison Campbell
Yazoo clay eats everything. So things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.
Stephen A. Smith
7,000 bodies out there or more, all.
Larison Campbell
Former patients of the old state asylum. And nobody knew they were there.
Stephen A. Smith
It was my family's mystery.
Larison Campbell
But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information. When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.
Stephen A. Smith
The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.
Larison Campbell
I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to Andrea zukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Hunter
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America.
Stephen A. Smith
There are.
Hunter
There are several ways we can all do better at protecting black women. My contribution is shining a light on our missing sisters and amplifying their disregarded stories. Stories like Tameka Anderson. As she drove toward Galvez, she was in contact with several people talking on the phone as she made her way to what should have been a routine transaction. But Tameka never bought the car and she never returned home that day. One podcast, one mission. Save our girls. Join the search as we explore the chilling cases of missing and murdered black women and girls. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Stephen A. Smith
The first round of Told you How's he ever lead? He ain't make a shot yet. Four, one, zero, Stephen A.
Oh my. I got three left.
Hey, he got it. He got to shoot with all the pressure.
Oh.
Come on, champ.
All right, what's up, dog?
Uh oh. Two. Oh. Uh oh. Stephen A. Oh. Oh my God.
Get the money. Look at him concentrating.
Three, one. That's it. It's it.
Nate Thompson
Congratulations.
Stephen A. Smith
Welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith Show.
That was yours truly.
Saturday in Vegas responded to that free throw shooting challenge from my brother Kenny Smith at tnt.
Kenny decided to shoot with his left hand and that essentially sealed his fate.
Against moi as I won three to one. Listen, y'all, it's all in fun. I mean, you know, come on, man, you know, it's free throw shooting contest and stuff like that. You sure you saw the bricks we were laying when we shoot from threes, right? But I tell you this much, that's because first of all, we practice indoors and we only practice on the free throws. Didn't know we were going to be outside.
And then when we go outside, it.
Looked like the Damn rim was 11ft.
Instead of 10ft high.
And the three point line looked bad.
I mean, it reminded me of when I went on the first on the mound for the Yankee Stadium for the first pitch. I mean, look like a damn mile away, for crying out loud.
And I. And I shot three air balls just like everybody else did. Shaq shot air balls. Kenny shot air balls. Ernie Johnson shot air balls. Charles Barkley definitely shot air balls. Okay, but I hit one.
But I would have hit more if.
I warmed up a little bit more.
But it's cool.
It's cool.
But you know, this basketball is not baseball.
So I wasn't worried about it. I just knew that I had to make shots because, I mean, after the first pitch fiasco, I couldn't go out there and just shoot the free throws and not. And not show up. But in all seriousness, I want to give props to the whole TNT crew. See, they come to ESPN next year. And I can't speak for everybody else, but I'm ecstatic that they're doing that. I'm ecstatic that they're doing that. You know what, as I've said, you know, listen, ESPN and Disney, I mean, listen, I've been there for the last 20 years or so, okay? And I've had a phenomenal relationship with all of those guys, as I've said on many occasions, all right? And so for me, it's just about looking at them. I just wanted to say Kenny did me a favor, all right? Because if he shot right handed, he probably would have smoked me. He's a career 83% shooter, all right? He's an NBA two time NBA champion. I know my lane. His brother Vincent taught me how to play, for crying out loud. I know better. Kenny Smith is Kenny Smith. So people looking at him and acting like I legitimately beat him, I made my free throw, okay? That's really all that's good out of this. The man shot left hand. Next time, he ain't gonna give me that kind of break. I know this, all right? So I appreciate it. I had a lot of fun, but I just got a lot of love for them. We all go back decades and so to have that, to be on TNT with those guys having that kind of fun, I just can't say enough about what an experience it was. And I just wanted to thank them for it, all right? It's all in fun. Ain't nobody walking around here with some big head just because I hit three free throws were crying out loud. Even though it was pressure, it was on national television, everybody was watching, and had I missed, I wouldn't have heard the end of it. So I did respond to the pressure of the moment. I will give myself credit for that. But not for beating Kenny Smith, who rolled left handed. I know better y'all. I know better.
Listen up. Right now you might be getting ready to sit in front of your TV or holding your cell phone watching a football game. That's cool. But there's nothing like being at the stadium. Just imagine yourself sitting in the stands watching that same game, hanging out with the pre game tailgaters, walking into the stadium and looking down on the action, cheering and high fiving people sitting next to you as the game unfolds right on the field. There's no better way to get in on the action than by purchasing your tickets on the GameTime app. You see GameTime has this new feature called GameTime Picks that makes getting tickets.
To see your favorite teams play live even easier.
Gametime Picks filters through everything to only show you the incredible deals on great seats, saving you time by not having to search through thousands of tickets. And there's so many ways to save money on tickets no matter when you buy, even on those last minute purchases. That's right. Gametime has deals on tickets right up to the start of the event, even an hour after it starts. And Game Time is not just for sports fans. They have exclusive sponsored deals on comedy, concerts, theater and more. And get this Because Game Time is.
All about their fans.
They have their game Time ticket coverage, which means they'll always have your back. It includes lowest price guarantee, event cancellation protection, 24 hour returns guarantee, job loss assurance, and on time ticket delivery. You can buy with confidence knowing your purchase is covered by gametime ticket coverage. So take the guesswork out of buying.
Tickets with GameTime Picks.
Download the GameTime app, create an account and use the code SAS for $20 off your first purchase terms. Apply again, create an account and redeem code SAS for $20 off download game Time today. What time is it?
Game Time. Now let me get to another sports media headline that involves yours truly. Many of you know I've been at ESPN and Disney for nearly 20 years. We've had a good relationship and I've said on many occasions that I will never speak on my contract negotiations because only a fool talks about his negotiations while they're ongoing. I'm not going to start here. However, I do want to acknowledge former NBC NBA player and podcaster Stephen Jackson from All the Smoke, who recently made comments about my ongoing discussions with espn. I want to read to y'all what he said. Check this out. Stephen A and I, we disagree on a lot of things, but the respect still remains and I congratulate him on being able to get that money. Go get that money Bro, I'm never being a hater. Get that money. If anybody deserves it, from the way he self made, you know Stephen A. Deserves it. You ain't got to agree with everything he says to respect him and congratulate him on the success he's had all these years. End quote. Now, let me say this. I appreciate Stephen Jackson saying that. I'm not gonna front. I've been pretty pissed at him for a few months and I've been waiting to see him one on one, talk to him man to man, because he and I haven't spoken since he was on his podcast telling his partner Matt Barnes, he don't fuck with me because he called me a snitch for calling the league office to ask why Russell Westbrook was not suspended. To reiterate that point and revisit it for a second, Russell Westbrook was excessively physical with Luka Doncic in the playoffs. Ultimately, a little scuffle and ensued. Russell Westbrook was ejected from the game. I was on national TV and I made it very, very clear I thought Russell Westbrook should be suspended. I said, had that been Draymond Green, they would have suspended him. Why not suspend Russell Westbrook at that time, before the next game? NBA Countdown was the pregame show. So I was asked by my superiors at ESPN to call the league office to find out why Russell Westbrook, who had been ejected from that game, wasn't suspended for the next game. And the league gave me the explanation. They didn't suspend him because there wasn't history there, number one. Number two, he left the court in a peaceful fashion and there was nothing that ensued thereafter. And number three, it was the playoffs. It wasn't a regular season game. While admitting to me, had it been Draymond Green, it might have been a different story. So they gave the explanation and I went on the air and I revealed to the audience, I called the league office and that was the explanation. And then Gilly from Wallow and Gilly's podcast went off on social media about me covering, you know, call it a league office. And Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson ultimately said, you know, I don't agree with Stephen A. On that, et cetera, et cetera. The difference was is that Matt Barnes called me up, ultimately came on the show to discuss it with me, and Stephen Jackson didn't respond to my invite for him to do the same. While I'm Gilly with Gillies, all I said is this. You talk about the NBA. I cover was my job to call the league office. I didn't call the league office to get Russell Westbrook suspended. I'd already stayed. If it were me, I would have suspended them. What I called was to find out their rationale behind not suspending him when you know they would have suspended Draymond Green. That is all it's called, doing my job. For that, Stephen Jackson labeled me a snitch without knowing all the facts. Never apologized for it or anything like that. And this is a brother that I go back with for years, decades actually. And I didn't appreciate that. First of all, in our community, we know what being a snitch connotates. That's not some shit you say. And I didn't appreciate that at all. Secondly, especially from somebody that I'm pretty damn cool with. But in the end, I know how to differentiate my issue with him over an incident and my issue with him over character. See, I had a problem with Stephen Jackson not recognizing and remembering where my character stands. There's a lot of that I don't say. And anybody that knows me knows I ain't no damn snitch. I don't roll like that. And so for to kind of to associate that word with me was highly offensive. And we haven't spoken sense. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. But having said all of that, I really appreciate him coming out and saying what he said. It meant a lot to me and I thank him for it, really, sincerely. Because I want people to understand, no matter what the deal is, no matter what money it entails, it was earned. Not given. Whatever. Whenever we reach an agreement, which we have not yet, it will be earned. Anybody giving me anything, I've earned it. And if I earn it, and I show you how this snot nosed kid from Hollis, Queens, from the streets of Hollis, Queens, New York, ultimately ascends in the business. Not as a rap artist, not as an actor and actress, not as.
Not as a baller, whether it's football.
Or basketball or something else, but through journalism. And I do that with the advent of podcasts and YouTube shows and channels and all of this other stuff. If I could do it, imagine what doors it'll open for the rest of us. That's where I'm coming from with it. And I can't speak on it, and I'm not going to speak on it. But let me assure you of something. While there is an agreement, you have no idea what the deal is. You have no idea idea rather what it does entail, and you have no idea about how. What I'm aiming to do is going to rock the foundation of this industry. I'm after big, big, big things and I can't speak on it until it's done. Only a fool would speak on it prematurely. But I'm coming and I appreciate all the support from the Steven Jacksons. My man Matt Barnes. Can't say enough about that, love that brother. Can't say enough about him and his support of me, Cam Newton, how he supported Shannon Sharp, Ryan Clark, Swagu and all them Kendrick Perkins. List goes on and on and on. I'll speak on it when it's time, but I see everything and to those who have supported me, all I'm going to say is I will never forget. I will never forget. That's all I'm going to say about that. For now, let's get to the NFL and the MVP race, which might have ended yesterday in Detroit. By the way, did y'all see what Josh Allen did to the Lions yesterday? The Bills quarterback rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns as Buffalo beat Detroit 48 to 42. And last week Allen became the first quarterback to rush for three touchdowns and throw for three touchdowns in the same game. Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Allen has accounted for 10 touchdowns in the last two games alone. He's accounted for 36 touchdowns. Throwing a runner for the season while leading Buffalo to the second best record in the AFC is actually 37 touchdowns. That's why he's my pick for MVP. I don't want to hear about Lamar Jackson. I don't want to hear about Lamar Jackson. Let me tell you this about this about Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson is having outstanding season season. He's playing on another level. He's also lost the two last place teams and he's also in second place in the AFC North. This is with coming into the season projecting to be better because you got Derrick Henry in your backfield who was a stud for the first half of the season. What did Josh Allen come into the season with? It wasn't with Stephon Diggs. He went to Houston. It wasn't with Gabe Davis. He went to Jacksonville. You got a rookie at the wide receiver spot and Keon Coleman before you acquired Amari Cooper, who you didn't even target yesterday and still put up 48 points. We knew James was good. We didn't see him doing what he's been doing. Josh Allen's been on another level, ladies and gentlemen. The brother's the MVP now. He's 5 and 5 in the postseason. Oh and 3 against Patrick Mahomes, 0 and 1 against Joe Burrow, you got to handle your business come postseason time, just like Lamar Jackson has to. But in terms of this regular season, with Buffalo looking the way that they are looking, on the verge of potentially getting home field advantage throughout the AFC postseason because Kansas City is only one game up on them if they end up tying with Kansas City, particularly since Patrick Mahomes injured, had a high ankle sprain and probably ain't going to play the next game if they end up with a tie record. Buffalo beat them in the regular season, so they get the tiebreaker. I don't know if anybody's coming to Orchard park this year and beat the Buffalo Bills. I don't know if that's going to happen. I just want to say that there's nothing to talk about here. Josh Allen is the mvp. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is the imminent NFL mvp. Barring a catastrophe coming up, there are.
Unidentified flying objects hovering over the Eastern seaboard.
Should we be concerned about them? I'll get into that and respond to your tweets as well. Don't go anywhere. This is the Stephen A. Smith Show. Your boy ain't leaving. I'll be right back. Welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith Show. I want to get into a story that has many folks concerned on the east coast, including yours truly.
There've been a number of reported drone.
Sightings in New York, New Jersey and other states, states that have many concerned.
The sightings have put intense pressure on.
Federal agencies to provide answers to what people are seeing.
Some officials have urged calm and emphasized.
There'S no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat. However, other leaders, like New York Governor Kathy Hochul, have said enough is enough. Listen to what she had to say. She said this is going too far, adding that she, quote, directed the New York State Intelligence center to actively investigate.
Drone sightings and coordinate with federal law.
Enforcement to address the issue, end quote. Meanwhile, take a look at what President elect Donald Trump posted to X this weekend poking fun at former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Look at this. Look at this. Yes, y'all. It could be seen as being funny to some degree. Drones carrying McDonald's bag descended, you know, hovering over former governor Chris Christie. But nevertheless, it's classless. It's classless.
See that?
It's stuff like that that makes me think Trump is gonna go back to being the tweeter in chief. You know what I'm saying?
This is what I worry about.
You understand?
You know, you got leaders all over the world, China, you know, Russia and everywhere else. And this dude going after Kathy Griffin. You understand? This is who Trump is now. No doubt. It's hilarious at times. No doubt. You understand? I never get. June 27 Debate against Joe Biden.
I don't know what he said. I don't think he knows what he said.
I mean, some of it is hilarious. No doubt. No, no, no. No doubt, without question.
Okay, I get it.
But in the same breath.
Come on, man, you got to be better than that. This is a serious issue.
Now, listen, y'all gonna laugh at me, but I'm one of those people. I don't know about y'all, but I don't happen to think we the only creatures on Earth, human beings and animals.
That you see and stuff like that.
Do I think that beings from, dare I say, other planets exist on. On. On the planet Earth? Yes. Yes. Look at that right there. You see that? The fly for that. That's right. That's a. But, see, here's the difference. You see the picture that that's given off? You see the picture that that's displaying right there? See, that's some shit that existed on Independence Day, you know? And listen, if you notice y'all, if you go back to Independence Day, I don't recall seeing any black people on.
That roof looking up at the spaceship.
You know, because black people, a little bit different. We see a spaceship, we try and get the hell out of town. White folks, like, that's peculiar.
I mean, that's interesting. Wow. I have to go up there and see that?
Hell, no. No. And that's why I liked it when the spaceship beamed down on a building and blew everybody to smithereens. Cause you ain't supposed to be underestimating stuff like that. You ain't supposed to be thinking, yo, you know, that's peculiar.
I mean, I have to see what's going on there. I mean.
Wow. No, I wanna see that. No one see that. Y'all, that Independence Day stuff, I believe that. Remember that movie with Rowdy Roddy Piper from the World Wrestling Federation, the WWF at the time, and it was called they Live and as. Basically, you put on these glasses and you see regular human beings in their true. You know, people that look like regular human beings in their true form. You could tell the difference between those who were actually humans and those who were alien figures. And then they noticed that when he put the glasses on, he saw exactly who they were and they pointed him out and stuff like that. See, I think stuff like that happens. I'm not foolish enough to believe that the only beings on this Earth are human beings. I'm not down with that. Look, we trying to go to Mars, ain't we? What? Dave Chappelle said, Mars, bitches. Red Rock. Yay. Yay. Remember that. Okay, we trying to go to Mars. How come people can't be trying to get to Earth? I don't underestimate that kind of stuff, y'all. I don't sleep on it. So when I see these drones hovering over homes in New Jersey and New York, and they big ones too, by the way, I don't know what they armed with. To me, if it's our government, shoot them down. Shoot them down. Knock them right out of the sky. Every one of them. Every one of them.
That's what I feel should be happening.
Damn that stuff. And don't tell me y'all don't know what's going on. Y'all always got an idea. We the United States of America. You always got something on you. Keep it from the American people.
Cause you want to scare folks. You don't want to tell them the truth.
And I can understand that if you're.
Doing something about it.
But when they continue hovering over homes in New Jersey and New York and other places day after day after day, what the hell y'all gonna do about it? See, that's when people with their Second Amendment rights got a whole bunch of shotguns and everything else talking about shooting stuff outta Scott. I don't blame them. What you hovering over their house for?
That's me. That's me. Independence Day. And you know aliens. And I will not. Not that I got anything to do with spaceships or anything like that, but I'm just saying, y'all, that kind of stuff, I believe.
I ain't going front.
I actually. I absolutely believe that other beings exist on this planet. When I see drones in the sky.
You might say they drones.
I might think they something else. I might think they. It could be spy material.
You spying on the homes of American.
Citizens, for all we know. That could be. That would be very, very egregious.
But it could be that or it.
Could actually be aliens.
And y'all could tease me all you want to. I listen. I don't know that to be the.
Case, but it ain't far fetched. It ain't far fetched. I'm just saying let's get to the tweets before I get on out of here for the day. Please. Let's get to them right now. Right. Let me see what tweets that you got here.
Show it to me.
Please.
First up at E Girls, XO Stephen A.
Which city in the US has the best looking women and why is it Miami? Well, first of all, you answered the question. It's Miami. Miami is special. It's special. And I'm not just talking about the city of Miami. I'm talking about the outskirts. I'm talking about going towards Coral Gables. I'm talking about South Beach. I'm talking about, you know, near Fort Lauderdale. I'm talking about Coral Gables, like I said before, Little Cuba, Miracle Mile, all of those spots. You know, it's bad in Miami when one of the finest women you ever saw in your life is at a gas station pumping gas in Miami. That's when you know this place is different. Like different. I'm talking about the kind of beauty that stops traffic. Cats getting in car crashes because they screeching, screeching on their brakes, causing three car accidents and stuff like that. Because you. And then the accidents happen and then.
People like, what the hell is wrong with you?
And they all look over at the gas station and go like this. Oh, I understand. Miami's like that. It really is like that. That's why I don't hang out in Miami. That's why I'm hanging out. Next tweet, please, at Greg 1-667-693-5420 writes, which zone do you typically aim for when you're peeing, urinating? I would tell you zone five. And then when I really want to show, you know, the versatility, the control that I have, I'll venture out between 3 and 6, 7 just to circle around because I can. But the answer to that question would be 5. I never thought I'd be asked that question in my life. You understand what I'm saying? I would tell you, I would tell you from B to F and three to seven, focusing on five whenever I choose to. That would be the answer to the question. Very unique question. Let's get to the next tweet, please. Give it to me. What you got here? Dylan Heiser writes, would you rather fight.
An orangutan once a year, get a sword but you don't know when the.
Fight is going to happen or fight a chicken every day you got in any car, fight the orangutan. First of all, you're giving me a sword. And secondly, it's once a year. You understand My chances of survival far exceeds a wild chicken being in a car with me every damn day. Eventually I'm gonna get tired of fighting. So I would tell you the orangutan once a year with a sword in my hand. That's where I would go with. Next tweet, please give it to me at updatingonrome writes. Hey, Stephen, A. In your opinion, was the great Julius Caesar a tyrant or the people's hero of Rome? I say a tyrant. You know, when they say you got a Caesar complex, whatever that means people short, they got, you know, they like to be an authority and all this. I never bought into that or anything like that, but they got it from somewhere. It was Julius Caesar. So he was very, very big on authority. Very, very big on having dominion over everyone or whatever. And his tendencies were tyrannical. Okay, so again, when that. With that being the case, I hardly would say that that's the greatness of Rome, even though I'd be partial to Listen to Maximus Decimus Meridius, loyal servant.
To the true emperor Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a.
Murdered wife, and I shall have my vengeance in this life for the next. That's it for this edition of the Stephen A. Smith Show. Hope y'all enjoyed it. I'll see y'all in a couple of days. Until then, peace of love, everybody. I got a bath later.
Greg Rosenthal
What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Julie Swearbinks
What's up, everyone? Julie Swearbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.
Nate Thompson
We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.
Julie Swearbinks
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
Nate Thompson
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
Julie Swearbinks
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
Nate Thompson
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
Julie Swearbinks
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
The Stephen A. Smith Show
Episode: Is Stephen A. about to become a Republican? – Hear me out! I'm not down with the Drones - But UFOs can exist.
Release Date: December 17, 2024
In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into a range of pressing topics, from tragic events in Wisconsin to intense political discourse and even touches on the mysterious sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). As always, Stephen provides his unfiltered opinions, drawing from personal experiences and extensive knowledge across various societal arenas.
Timestamp: [01:14] - [10:31]
Stephen opens the show with a somber tone, addressing the heartbreaking news of a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. He reflects on the emotional impact of such tragedies, comparing them to the Sandy Hook incident.
He emphasizes the politicization of such events, arguing that the focus often shifts from the lost lives to debates over gun control and Second Amendment rights.
Stephen grapples with his position as a registered independent, expressing frustration over the ongoing debate between gun control advocates and Second Amendment supporters.
Timestamp: [17:04] - [33:25]
Stephen transitions into a heated discussion about his political stance, addressing accusations from his audience about aligning with right-wing ideologies simply because of his critiques of the Democratic Party.
He elaborates on his voting decision in the recent election, explaining his choice to support Kamala Harris over Donald Trump not out of support for the latter, but to prevent further division in the country.
Stephen critically analyzes the Democratic Party's strategies, expressing disappointment over their handling of internal matters and leadership decisions.
He concludes this segment by reaffirming his independent status, highlighting the conservative issues he supports while also advocating for social welfare and minority rights.
Timestamp: [33:25] - [39:44]
The discussion shifts to the civil lawsuit filed against Jay Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs, accusing them of raping a 13-year-old in 2000. Stephen vehemently defends Jay Z, whom he has known for over 25 years, dismissing the allegations as inconsistent and unfounded.
He criticizes the reluctance of people to defend individuals based on long-standing personal relationships, expressing frustration over being labeled a "snitch" for standing by his friend.
Stephen underscores the importance of personal integrity and loyalty, emphasizing that his defense of Jay Z stems from genuine trust and firsthand experience.
Timestamp: [48:15] - [59:53]
Shifting gears to sports, Stephen passionately argues that Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the frontrunner for the NFL MVP award. He highlights Allen's outstanding performance, including multiple touchdowns in recent games, and contrasts his achievements with those of Lamar Jackson.
Stephen dissects the statistical performance of Allen, praising his versatility and leadership, while critiquing Lamar Jackson's contributions relative to his team's overall performance.
Timestamp: [59:53] - [66:27]
In one of the more unconventional segments, Stephen addresses recent reports of drone and UFO sightings over New York and New Jersey. He expresses skepticism and concern, pondering the possibility of extraterrestrial beings or government surveillance.
He draws parallels to popular culture references like Independence Day and They Live, suggesting that these sightings could signify more profound and potentially threatening phenomena.
Stephen advocates for proactive measures, proposing that government authorities should address and investigate these occurrences diligently.
Timestamp: [66:27] - [70:59]
Towards the end of the episode, Stephen engages with audience tweets, responding humorously to unconventional questions about personal habits and historical figures. This segment showcases his charismatic and often playful side, balancing the intense discussions with moments of levity.
Another tweet prompts Stephen to discuss his preference in hypothetical fight scenarios, further illustrating his ability to entertain while engaging with his audience.
In this comprehensive episode, Stephen A. Smith navigates through deeply emotional topics, contentious political debates, high-stakes sports discussions, and even ventures into speculative territory with UFO sightings. His unwavering stance as an independent voice allows him to critique both political spectrums while maintaining personal integrity and loyalty. Whether addressing national tragedies, defending long-time friends, or predicting MVP outcomes, Stephen delivers his insights with the signature passion and candor that listeners have come to expect from The Stephen A. Smith Show.
Notable Quotes:
On the Madison School Shooting:
“Rights are important, but not at the expense of the lives of human beings, particularly the youngest amongst us...” [09:45]
On Political Independence:
“I'm a registered independent because I don't trust either side. I think both sides are full of it...” [17:47]
Defending Jay Z:
“I've known the man for 25 years and I've never, ever, ever seen anything that would indicate that he would be guilty of such a thing.” [36:11]
On Josh Allen as MVP:
“Josh Allen is the MVP. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is the imminent NFL MVP.” [58:00]
On UFOs and Drones:
“I'm not foolish enough to believe that the only beings on this Earth are human beings...” [65:56]
Note: This summary focuses solely on the content-rich sections of the transcript, omitting advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments to provide a comprehensive overview of the episode's key discussions and insights.