ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith denies using racial slur while talking about Kobe Bryant, tape of show says otherwise (1044 hits)
SEE TAPE...
Stephen A. Smith’s mouth placed him in the eye of controversy Thursday, but the ESPN yakker denied dropping the N-word while discussing Kobe Bryant on “First Take.”
On the show, Smith sarcastically pooh-poohed the idea that Bryant would miss the Lakers’ opener because of a foot injury.
Listening to a replay of SAS’ commentary provides evidence that he voiced the slur.
“Opening night, Kobe Bryant is going to miss it because my foot is sprained? Are you crazy? (N-word) please,” Smith said.
Smith came back on the show later, offering a vehement denial that he uttered the racial slur. He chalked it up to being from New York and speaking “very, very fastly.”
“I did not say the things reported that I said,” Smith said “Hopefully I will not have to address this again... If I were to have said anything like that I would have instantly issued an apology.”
