You know what is interesting about First Take.
The only clips they feature are ones of Stephen A. Smith. When someone pushes back on his stance, take, or in this case, his tone, those clips are never featured. They didn’t do when Max Kellerman was the co-host, and they don’t do it now when it is multiple co-hosts.
You might get a random Michael Irvin or Tim Tebow featured take, but not often.
I understand, Stephen A. Smith is the star. He is the Beyonce of the group, so they aren’t going to waste their time with Michelle Williams, but it is, in my opinion, they would do better if they showed more opposing views.
I think that would enhance their audience because the entire thing is to embrace the debate, but it can’t be considered a debate if it is one-sided.
Here is an excellent example of that.
Stephen A. screamed for days about Kyrie Irving. Said that Kyrie should retire because he refused to take the vaccine. He screamed at Lamar Jackson for not being vaccinated.
When it came to Aaron Rodgers, while he did say Rodgers should be suspended, he spoke in a very calm tone. It was unusual to hear because Stephen A. is always yelling.
When it was time for Jay Williams to come on, he pulled out multiple receipts on Stephen A speaking about Kyrie and not showing the same venom for Aaron Rodgers.
Social media dug even deeper and found all the clips of Stephen A. yelling at other athletes about the vaccine but not Aaron Rodgers.
Why is that?
You have to make your own determination, but, sadly, the viewer is the one who has to produce these clips for social media and not ESPN.
It is almost like they don’t want you to see the hypocrisy.
Flip the pages for Jay Williams, lighting Stephen A. up.
