I could never be Stephen A. Smith: Because I have to know what I’m talking about

I don’t know how guys who talk all day, like, say, a Stephen A. Smith, can do what they do.

I bring that up in the context of how I get asked, occasionally, why I don’t do more podcasts and video commentaries.

The answer is, I want to know what I’m talking about first.

I’m sorta, kinda the ant-Stephen A., in that respect.

Stephen A. errs on the side of, I’ll just talk loud, and if people have a problem with what I’m saying, talk louder.

I err, admittedly, on the side of, paralysis by analysis.

I couldn’t imagine how Stephen A. does what he does, until former ESPNer Jason Fitz let us in on the secret.

Talking with a Memphis radio station about Smith’s claim that NBA players don’t want to play with the Grizzlies because they’re afraid of crime in the city, Fitz threw out the obvious question:

“What the hell does Stephen A. know about the city of Memphis?”

“Now, Stephen A. is busier than I ever was. We see him making content 24/7,” Fitz said. “So, I guess my question to people in Memphis is: how much Memphis do you think he’s actually absorbed? And I mean all of it. Memphis culture, Memphis basketball.

“He is so separated from actual reality. What does he know?”

This is what happens, though, when you’re creating content 24/7 – hosting “First Take,” a new daily SiriusXM show, an interview podcast, making regular appearances on Fox News to make good with the MAGAs, serving as a panelist on ESPN’s NBA coverage.

Now, to the secret, per Fitz:

“Stephen A. has a staff and info group that feeds him information so that he can have somewhat informed opinions, and they’re usually not because he works too hard to actually watch any games,” Fitz said.

We all saw that for ourselves with the video of Smith playing solitaire during an NBA Finals game, which he, predictably, dismissed as fake news.

We also saw him checking his email live on the set of “First Take,” leading to his take:

“They should know better than having my damn email on camera.”

I can sympathize.

A few years ago, I wasn’t exactly as busy as Stephen A., but when I was a regular on ESPN+ broadcasting Southern Conference football, basketball and baseball, and juggling that with writing and editing AFP, and trying to feed the podcast and video beasts, yeah, I felt stretched thin.

So, I gave up the streaming gigs, and cut back on the podcasts and videos, trying to keep the main thing the main thing – the main thing being, reporting first, opining second.

Hearing from Fitz that Smith just has people feeding him info, which he can’t judge for himself is accurate or not, but anyway, I mean, man, I’m such a dumpkopf.