If there’s anybody who knows a thing or two about hyperbole, it’s Stephen A. Smith.
And when it came to an argument with Dan Orlovsky during Thursday’s episode of First Take, the ESPN star was quick to call out one of his favorite tools.
The comment came during a debate regarding — who else — the New York Jets. As Orlovsky made his case that the Jets’ Super Bowl or bust expectations are justified, Smith took a surprising jab at the former backup quarterback’s analysis style.
“That’s people like you, who engage in hyperbole for a living,” Smith said. “Far be it for me to say that, it’s just the truth. The bottom line is that’s what you’re doing.”
With Orlovsky sitting across from him with his jaw agape and a look of disbelief on his face, Smith continued.
“I watch you on NFL Live, I’ve seen you on Monday Night Football, I’ve seen you calling some of the games,” he said. “You do get a bit hyperbolic from time to time.”
“Holy fudge, dude,” Orlovsky replied.
Stephen A. Smith to Dan Orlovsky: “That’s people like you, who engage in hyperbole for a living. Far be it for me to say that, it’s just the truth. The bottom line is that’s what you’re doing.”
😲 pic.twitter.com/z9X3Ob7Wbh
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 17, 2024
Holy fudge, indeed.
While Orlovsky is certainly one to give strong — and yes, sometimes hyperbolic — takes, there may not be anybody at ESPN more synonymous with hyperbole than Smith. For all of the talk about how Smith and Skip Bayless “revolutionized” sports debate (just ask them), the reality is that taking their arguments to the extreme was — and still is — a big part of their respective debate styles.
To Smith’s credit, he seemed fully aware of the irony of him making such a statement, as he couldn’t help but grin as he called out Orlovsky. As the old saying goes, it takes one to know one, and when it comes to hyperbole on ESPN airwaves, Smith and Orlovsky might as well be the Spider-Man meme.
