Stephen A. Smith doesn’t like people who trash ESPN on their way out. He especially didn’t like when Curt Schilling said that ESPN fired him for his conservative views.
On his SiriuxXM Mad Dog Radio show, Smith started by at first using a broad brush to start up his rant:
“I can’t stand people who worked for ESPN that depart from ESPN clearly harboring whatever bitterness they harbor and try to throw talent under the bus — like talent has something to do with them being gone,” Smith said on SXM. “I have nothing to do with it.”
But then he focused his target on Schilling and specifically on the former Sunday Night Baseball/Baseball Tonight analyst who loves using his Facebook page to post political memes:
“Let me speak up on behalf of ESPN when I say this to Curt Schilling: …You are gone not because you have conservative views instead of liberal views. Your ass is gone because you did not want to listen,” Smith said on SXM. “ESPN tells me to shut-up, they’re my employer whether I like it or not. If I want to keep my job, I’ve got to shut the hell up.”
And then SAS said this:
“You (Schilling) want to sit here and have a debate about what really went on?” an indignant SAS asked. “Name the time and place and I’ll show up, with the permission of ESPN — of course. I guess listening to my boss makes me a bad guy. Well guess what? I’d rather be bad than stupid.”
Now that would be interesting to see a debate these two Type-A personalities who aren’t willing to back down from a fight. They would certainly make for some interesting radio or television.
If this could actually happen, imagine the promotion from either ESPN or SiriusXM for the debate.
“He’s the man who won’t back down vs. the man who won’t listen! Stephen A. Smith vs. Curt Schilling! Live! In Primetime! Be there!”
We can dream.

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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.
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