Stephen A. Smith isn’t happy about people referring to Josh Donaldson’s ‘Jackie’ comment to Tim Anderson as racist. According to Stephen, people need to reflect before tagging Josh’s comment to Tim as racist via Side Action;
The comment Donaldson made to Anderson was by calling the shortstop ‘Jackie’, referencing a 2019 interview where Anderson compared himself to a modern-day Jackie Robinson.
“Here is what upsets me about this,” Smith said. “We are having a conversation about race, and I can’t sit here and tell you that anything Josh Donaldson said was racist. I think it’s actually wrong for people to attach racist, or racism, to Josh Donaldson today.”
Stephen A. Smith would go on to explain why he was ‘annoyed’ by the backlash Josh Donaldson was receiving after Tim Anderson took exception to the comment.
“Here is why I am annoyed by it. We gotta make sure when we make accusations like that that it counts. It’s damn near pretty irrefutable what you are… And then when real, bonafide, undeniable, unequivocal racist behavior is exhibited and put on display, people get to feign denials and all of this other stuff because so many times we’re bringing this up. I’m just saying we gotta be careful.”
According to the MLB, Josh Donaldson would be receiving a one-game suspension for his ‘Jackie’ comment to Tim Anderson.
“There is no dispute over what was said on the field,” MLB’s statement reads. “Regardless of Mr. Donaldson’s intent, the comment he directed toward Mr. Anderson was disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions.
“In addition, Mr. Donaldson’s remark was a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident between the teams, and warrants discipline.”
Josh Donaldson is said to be appealing the suspension.
It doesn’t matter what Stephen A. thinks the intent was, Anderson was offended and we should be supporting the brother not the one who is making the flippant remark.
Flip to the next page to watch Stephen A. Smith’s take…