THE SAS GAME
Getting into beef with LeBron is good for Smith’s business
That LeBron James would cast aspersions on Stephen A. Smith’s reporting again shows in a land of a thousand Gasbags, SAS has the ability to crash through the wall of sound with his own brand of noise and become part of the storyline. In this case it’s about Kyrie Irving’s desire to exit Cleveland.
Smith said according to sources close to James, that if the King saw Kyrie standing in front of him he would be “tempted to beat Irving’s ass.” James denied this on Twitter, which sent SAS to the mattresses (“Stop hiding behind 140 characters, LeBron,” Smith said) to defend himself during his ESPN Radio show.
This is where the line was blurred.
Was this really about Smith defending his reporting? Or was his prolonged defense, which he carried on over the course of two days of radio shows, a device to keep the controversy brewing while engaging in some self-promotion to enhance his own brand?
On the air SAS said his source’s words “were not meant to be taken literally,” but were meant to show “how upset” James is with Irving for looking to leave Cleveland allegedly because he doesn’t want to ride shotgun for the King anymore.
Smith could have easily and quickly made his point by simply saying he stood by his reporting and his source’s words were not to be taken literally. Instead, he took James’ denial, and launched into an extended soliloquy that although entertaining was also self-serving.
In doing so and without directly saying it, Smith tried separating himself from the other hardworking NBA reporters following the story. Through the course of his career, SAS has paid tribute to those on the NBA beat, but on this occasion he singled himself out as THE one who makes James “uncomfortable.” He said that’s why James won’t do a one-onone with him.
This made it seem anyone else who interviews James immediately goes into Twinkie Munch mode. In passing, Smith mentioned James doesn’t mind talking to his ESPN colleagues Brian Windhorst and Rachel Nichols. What was he inferring (duh)? Smith would never throw his colleagues under the bus, would he?
On the flip side, Smith again showed an ability to get under an NBA superstar’s skin while producing compelling radio. Remember, he also had Kevin Durant dogging him after SAS reported Durant wanted out of OKC. The “feud” continued with Smith trashing Durant after he went to Golden State. It doesn’t get any better for a Gasbag.
That’s why it’s worth wondering if all the bloviating was really about defending his reporting?
Or entirely about the business of being Stephen A. Smith.
LITTLE WAVES
The brainiacs selecting the talkie team to replace Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa (if he actually does leave WFAN in December) are no closer to making a selection than when they started their search. Could it be that they might be forced to ask Francesa to hang around for a few more months? “Mikey, can you do it for old time sake?” one of the suits might ask. Radio moles say none of the candidates have blown any of the selectors away with their style. More importantly, in the first round of auditions, none of the teams have produced the kind of chemistry giving them an inside track to the gig. This would suggest there will be more auditions. The powers that be don’t have months to make their final decision. Some of the candidates are already under contract and those pacts would have to be adjusted. Sponsors would have to be informed and lined up. Would advertisers be expected to pay the same rates they were paying for the Pope’s highly rated show? Or will they view the new team as a couple of Ham & Eggers?
And, of course, the FANdroids would need time to launch a significant promotional campaign for the new team. They wouldn’t just throw them on the air, would they?
RAY OF INTRIGUE
Ray Lewis must be darn intimidating when he interviews for a TV gig.
How else can anyone explain why Conor McGregor’s main man, Showtime Sports boss Stephen (Weasel) Espinoza, hired Lewis to replace Brandon Marshall on “Inside The NFL.” Was Ray-Ray really Showtime’s first choice?
Lewis, in terms of preparation and delivery, didn’t distinguish himself when he was bombing out at ESPN. Still, his unpredictability and rigid stance on all things football could make this work.
It will be very interesting when Lewis gets in the face of Blonde Ambition (aka Norman Julius Esiason/ Phil Simms) and delivers one of his sermons.
The big question is this: Who will suck all the air out of the room? At ESPN, Lewis wasn’t shy about bogarting the microphone. Now he’s in with two Gasbags who also love the sound of their own voice.
Can’t wait.
SCRUFFY BEARDS
The Yankees becoming such a compelling product has not only energized their fan base, but also WFAN’s Bombers radio team John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling and Suzyn (Ma Pinstripe) Waldman.
No matter that FAN, currently owned by CBS, overpaid for radio rights and is losing money on the deal, Ma and Pa are master blasting as they chronicle the exploits of these Yankees.
This has taken them into areas never touched before. Like Thursday night vs. Tampa.
“Suzyn, why have so many players on Tampa grown beards?” Sterling asked.
Ma: “I don’t know Jawn. Maybe it’s some kind of contest — who can grow the fullest beard.”
Pa: “You know Suzyn, not many people look good in a beard. They look unkempt, actually.”
Guess that means Sterling ain’t growing one any time soon. Glad to see WOR-AM’s Sal Licata and Pete McCarthy put their differences aside long enough Thursday night to give Lucas Duda a proper sendoff. Okay, so Licata figuratively kicked Duda in the tuchis as he was headed to join the Rays in the Bronx, but there was no question WOR’s “Sportszone” crew provided the most comprehensive coverage of Duda’s exodus as it was going down. The coverage included Terry Collins meeting with boss scribes to say goodbye to Duda. Now, Licata and McCarthy can go back to despising each other.