LeBron-Stephen A feud -- dayum

[fabiani12333]

As you all know, LeBron James recently confronted Stephen A Smith at a Lakers game over Smith publicly commenting on his son, Bronny. It has apparently set-off a full-blown public feud between the two. LeBron went on Pat McAfee's show two days ago and addressed the incident with Smith. He claimed Smith's comments on Bronny were personal in nature, requiring LeBron to come to his son's defense.

The next day, Smith went on First Take and called LeBron a liar for his claim that Smith's comment were personal, saying that he only criticized the hype surrounding Bronny and his poor performance on the court. Smith then proceeded to go full-on, old-school, WWF promo mode -- and it was glorious:

"He doesn't want a rebuttal. He doesn't want any pushback. He just wants to say what he said like he did courtside, and then depart -- but looks right up to the camera that's behind us -- that I never saw -- who was filming it all along. The man orchestrates stuff. The man will smile in your face, and he's got something behind his back -- ready to stab you with it. It's who he has been. It's who I have known him to be. It's why he doesn't like me -- because he knowns I know it. And it's certainly why I don't like him. But, it's not going to stop me from being professional at all times. America, the world, I work for ESPN. I will not dishonor this network. I will not dishonor this profession, by being unprofessional when it comes to somebody I don't like. Just because I don't like you as a person, doesn't mean I cannot appreciate your unquestionable, undeniable, unparalleled greatness. I know who LeBron James is and what he has meant to basketball. But I also know how he has alienated a lot of folks along the way. I'm not the only one. I'm just one of the few who is in a position to speak up about it -- the brother ain't scaring me. Ain't nobody shivering this way. I don't care what he feels or what he has to say. I stand by the things that I said. I have never, ever gone after somebody's family. And I would never do that. And he is creating this narrative because he can't accept the fact that I won't kiss the ring and acknowledge him as the greatest ever. Why? Because he is not. He had to learn to win.
...
I'm going to do my job. I'm going to call it like the hell I see it. And that's the way it has been. That is the way it is. And that is the way it is going to stay. Because bottom line -- last point is this -- the day he came up to me was the day my new contract was announced. So he knows like everybody else. It's goin' be a little while before I go away. I was here before he got here in 2003. In all likelihood, I'mma been here when he's gone. You've got to deal with that, bro -- plain and simple."

Molly Qerim: "Okay, we're 17 minutes in, so I'm actually going to go to break -- you're good, Stephen A?"

Stephen A: "I'm very good. Very good"

Molly: "I'm glad you're very good."

[hermanotarjeta]

GenXer dogging on a millennial.

Sounds about right.

[asujbl]

SAS is a whack job

The minute he randomly brought up Kobe’s funeral LeBron had won… SAS was off the rails

[rustywest]

Honestly, it's incredibly sad that people still check in with Stephen A Smith. The jokes literally on you! A tragic indictment on the collective IQ of North American fandom.

And I'm saying this with the complete understanding for the myriad of reasons why LeBron James is unlikeable to you.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by rustywest

Honestly, it's incredibly sad that people still check in with Stephen A Smith. The jokes literally on you! A tragic indictment on the collective IQ of North American fandom.

And I'm saying this with the complete understanding for the myriad of reasons why LeBron James is unlikeable to you.

But LeBron was the one who brought the attention to Smith by confronting him at a game and criticizing him on a popular sports show.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

But LeBron was the one who brought the attention to Smith by confronting him at a game and criticizing him on a popular sports show.

Kind of a big gap between those things where SAS could have taken his loss

[BostonNut]

Not reading the wall of text in OP.

Break it down for me please.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Not reading the wall of text in OP.

Break it down for me please.

A fake feud where both win as well as espn. Lebron promotes his media, Stephen A gets in the news cycle, and McAfee gets Lebron on his show as well. It's a win for all involved.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Not reading the wall of text in OP.

Break it down for me please.

LeBron yelled at SAS for making fun of Bronny

LeBron was kind of a pansy for doing it and very few people debate that

SAS lost his mind about it because he has a show

LeBron went on McAfee, who SAS also hates, because he controls his own show and only licenses it to ESPN and worked SAS again

SAS went on a psychotic rant for 16 minutes on TV about LeBron including saying he wasn’t at Kobe’s funeral

He was at Kobe’s funeral

SAS still thinks he has as much power as LeBron

That’s about it

[MavsRChamps]

I thought I've been following the NBA pretty well over the past 20 years and I had no idea Stephen A Smith didn't like Lebron as he said repeatedly in this rant. Guess I wasn't paying attention

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

I thought I've been following the NBA pretty well over the past 20 years and I had no idea Stephen A Smith didn't like Lebron as he said repeatedly in this rant. Guess I wasn't paying attention

SAS is scared to death of McAfee

That doesn’t help

Pat isn’t an ESPN employee. He licenses his show to ESPN and they edit it as they do. Hence the disclaimer and why LeBron said #@#@#@#@ 50 times on YouTube

He does whatever he wants and gets paid 85M to do it

SAS has to report to someone

“McAfee, 37, produces his hit show and licenses it to ESPN on a reported five-year, $85 million contract, allowing him creative liberties that other shows produced by the network do not.

For example, his interview with James aired unedited on YouTube, ESPN+ and TikTok Live. In contrast, to comply with FCC television regulations, ESPN had to mute large sections of the audio on the cable channel around instances when James and McAfee cursed”

Pat doesn’t give a crap

SAS is bitter as hell

[nbahobbyaddict]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Smith then proceeded to go full-on, old-school, WWF promo mode -- and it was glorious:

This does not say good things about your life.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by nbahobbyaddict

This does not say good things about your life.

Umm… that’s what he did

You’re the crazy person

[Poorboy]

So you take LeBron and sas on a wild ride of a train wreck
Does anyone truly care ?

[imbluestreak23]

ESPN is full of ratchet beta energy. They all think they are still in the streets.

SAS
Perk
Barnes
Stephen Jackson

All publicly declaring it’s “on site” boi

Cardi B is so proud. Lowest common denominator always wins out

Long gone are the days of Stuart Scott, Dan Patrick, Eich Eisen, John Anderson.

Degen vernacular is the mainstream discourse, more degen the more popular. More ratchet, more popular. This is modern sports and the dialogue surrounding it

Oh, Mcafee is a cuck. Will say or do anything for money. Zero integrity

[mc1]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

ESPN is full of ratchet beta energy. They all think they are still in the streets.

SAS
Perk
Barnes
Stephen Jackson

All publicly declaring it’s “on site” boi

Cardi B is so proud. Lowest common denominator always wins out

Long gone are the days of Stuart Scott, Dan Patrick, Eich Eisen, John Anderson.

Degen vernacular is the mainstream discourse, more degen the more popular. More ratchet, more popular. This is modern sports and the dialogue surrounding it

Oh, Mcafee is a cuck. Will say or do anything for money. Zero integrity

Why are you always so bitter? Go outside and take a couple laps instead of posting so much nonsense.

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by mc1

Why are you always so bitter? Go outside and take a couple laps instead of posting so much nonsense.

I got PLENTY of sunshine today

Aren't you fools wondering why da league is dyin'?

[boxbuster7]

Stephan a Smith is such a hack

lol

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

Stephan a Smith is such a hack

lol

This.

I can't get through 30 seconds of listening to him.

Which makes it even more lame he got a huge bite from LeBron.

They're both pathetic, but both will get a ton of air time from this.

[ninjacookies]

Manufactured k-drama for DJVlad subscribers.



We're all apparently here for it. Or nah.

[nbahobbyaddict]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

Stephan a Smith is such a hack

Yeah he's very tough to listen to.

[jlzinck]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Not reading the wall of text in OP.

Break it down for me please.

1 ahole complaining about another ahole

[sportzluvr1]

Wait until we have to refer to him as “President A. Smith”. Haha!

[RKH916]

This is the tabloid/hiphop amalgamation of culture that has feminized men. Petty drama queens, emotional instability & chest beating, fashion addiction, misguided values, etc.

Once Ernie retires it'll be no holds barred and our sports commentary will be reduced to live rap battles as 60 year old men settle their differences on air. This is just another saga in the never ending cultural void.

Turn it off and tune it out.

[Gem10collection]

the two lamest people in basketball.