Patterico's Pontifications

5/25/2014

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Defending Mark Cuban

Filed under: General — Dana @ 8:56 am



[guest post by Dana]

Earlier this week, Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban tried to have that conversation about race (posted about here). Anger, hand-wringing and indignation ensued. In other words, the reactions were predictable and if anything, confirmed that any conversation about race is not going to be a conversation, rather it’s going to be one person daring to step into the public square and honestly express his or her views and feelings about race, fear, and the whole damn thing, and if their views do not line up accordingly, they will instantly become the target of pre-programmed attacks and criticisms by the self-appointed gatekeepers of all things race. Thus, there is no real conversation, no give and take, no exchange of ideas. It’s a one way street where shutting down the individual is the goal. Any real conversation is now a near impossibility.

With regard to Cuban’s comments, what seemed to inflame the most was this particular portion,

“I’ve said this before. If I see a black kid in a hoodie at night on the same side of the street, I’m probably going to walk to other side of the street. If I see a white guy with a shaved head and lots of tattoos, I’m going back to the other side of the street.”

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith found himself taking heat for defending Cuban and his comments.

Smith emphasized that Cuban mentioned “white folks,” spoke about the “importance of presentation,” and said people were missing the point if they interpreted Cuban’s comments “along racial lines.”

“If you’re going to have a problem with what he said about the black person with the hoodie on then you have to have a problem with the white person he alluded to with tattoos all over his body,” he added. “I don’t think there is any ethnic group in America that should take issue with Cuban’s comments as a personal affront to them or as if he were isolating them.”

Smith commended Cuban for being “honest, forthcoming, and open about” his “fears and prejudices.”
“I applaud his honesty,” he said. “I took absolutely, positively no offense.”

After saying that he believed “every one” of the NBA owners would say the same thing Cuban did, Smith said that people cannot “want people to be honest” and then attack them “when they are honest, especially in measured tones.”

As a result, Smith’s twitter feed feed and email erupted with the inevitable accusations of: “Uncle Tom”, “You making excuses for him [Cuban]”, “You and him [Cuban] both look down on black people”, etc.

Smith, rather than backing down or back pedaling, further drove his point home in this frank and passionate video. Here is a man who is not only willing, but I suspect feels obligated, to step further into the public square and clarify his views, lest there be any confusion. He wants us to understand he does not care who condemns him, who hates him, who turns away from him: This is who he is. One surmises that his own sense of honesty takes precedence over all else, no matter the cost. It is absolutely worth watching.

–Dana

44 Responses to “ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Defending Mark Cuban”

  1. Stephan A is not your average man.
    He is way above average.

    mg (31009b)

  2. Excellent video from that apostate, race traitor.

    Thanks Dana

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  3. Holy S***!!! Wow!

    This video needs to go viral, not that attack cat one.

    When some of us hear the “let’s have a conversation about race…” this is more along the line of what we imagine, not the quiet listening to a race-pimp like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, among others.

    I didn’t know who Steven A Smith was until about 10 minutes ago.

    Thanks, Dana, so showing that there is hope.

    Gramps, the original (4615a6)

  4. Wow, is right! Riveting, heartfelt, and honest words flowing forth in righteous cadence with the truth. Someone link his blog.

    felipe (098e97)

  5. I’m going to watch that again. Thanks Dana.

    felipe (098e97)

  6. I normally cannot stand Stephen A Smith. But I respect the hell out of him.

    JD (67cbaf)

  7. Inspiring, whatever one’s color or background.

    Bob Ellison (c67160)

  8. Great stuff. I am with JD. I really never liked Smith that much. I do now.

    Ipso Fatso (10964d)

  9. People can think that persons dressed in very casual clothing are hoodlums.

    Therefore, Al Capone ordered all his men to wear suits and ties, and hats (with black haloes)and carry their machine guns in violin cases.

    Sammy Finkelman (f1bb90)

  10. I’m in the hospitality industry. If someone is willing to call me “dog” in the interview, as in “yo dog,” (no $ch33t, it happened) what are they going to say to the customers?

    I’m also not hiring this dude, or this dude, or these two dudes.

    Somebody, please, try to make the case I’m not hiring dude #1 because of his race.

    Cuban is right. So is Stephen A. Smith. (Steve’s are usually right. And successful, especially with the ladies.) But then, so was Jesse Jackson a decade or two back when he admitted that when he was walking down the street at night and heard footsteps behind him, he was relieved when he looked back and saw a couple of white dudes.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  11. Actually, I have no idea who Stephen A. Smith is, and I’m guessing based purely on the fact that he’s a sportscaster, i.e. in the MFM, he’s usually wrong. Like Jesse Jackson, I was just acknowledging that even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

    But the power of the Steve compelled me.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  12. And folks wonder why that dialogue on race never happened. Someone like Cuban speaks honestly of the perceptions that many people have — and every race hustler in the book goes after him.

    Kevin M (b357ee)

  13. If an honest conversation ever becomes thinkable, Kevin, Al Sharpton is out of a job.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  14. Steve57, I wonder how the Tattooist felt about working on those guys. Hey, Sammy, I will now take you up on your offer to look something up for me:

    Has any tattoo artist authored a book about the infamous persons that received tattoos?

    Don’t let me down, bro.

    felipe (098e97)

  15. I am not a big fan of head and neck tattoos, especially on chicks. Just personal taste. Don’t judge me.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  16. The panel on the right below is still one of my favorite tattoo fails:

    http://www.complex.com/style/2013/02/the-50-biggest-athlete-style-fails/melvin-costas-tats

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  17. I’m not a fan of head and neck tattoos on guys, either, daleyrocks. But it’s usually a real good advance tipoff that you definitely don’t want to see what the rest of him looks like.

    elissa (b7fb30)

  18. Clearly it is racist of me not to hire the black guy with “Geniuse” tattooed on his forehead.

    Just as it is sexist of me not to hire the 250lb young lady who shows up with “sexy” emblazoned on the aft end her booty shorts.

    Esoecially if she took the trouble to work her legs over with a ball peen hamer to bruise them up for the interview.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  19. It is only my white privilege that forces me to demand evidence you weren’t raised by wolves.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  20. tattoos mostly look good on cher’s ass and underneath the hoods of ninjas

    not that the NBA thugtrash care

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  21. *genius

    Accidentally hit the “e.”

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  22. i have white privilege too

    one time I mixed vodka and sprite in fact

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  23. just because i could

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  24. 17. I’m not a fan of head and neck tattoos on guys, either, daleyrocks. But it’s usually a real good advance tipoff that you definitely don’t want to see what the rest of him looks like.

    Comment by elissa (b7fb30) — 5/25/2014 @ 6:23 pm

    Growing up as a Coast Guard/Navy brat and showering with WWII vets in various gym or swimming pool locker rooms and witnessing what these tats that may have looked good in their twenties shriveled down to in their sixties was all the incentive I needed to never get a tattoo.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  25. Me: “Why did you get a tattoo of a fruit fly?”

    Him: “It’s a heart.”

    Me: “Oh, is that what it was.”

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  26. Hmm, I think I’ll go to a bar and ask for a “white privilege” and see what they give. If I am asked for the recipe, I’ll tell them it’s a “jigger of vodka and a splash of Sprite”. but what should I tell them about mixing it? Maybe it should be obvious that it should be served “straight up”.

    felipe (098e97)

  27. 17. I’m not a fan of head and neck tattoos on guys, either, daleyrocks. But it’s usually a real good advance tipoff that you definitely don’t want to see what the rest of him looks like.

    Comment by elissa (b7fb30) — 5/25/2014 @ 6:23 pm

    The deal-breaker has to be teh tramp stamp on the lower back

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  28. 22. i have white privilege too

    one time I mixed vodka and sprite in fact

    Comment by happyfeet (8ce051) — 5/25/2014 @ 6:31 pm

    I once mixed really cheap Hawaiian vodka with grape Kool Aid.

    We listened to Hendrix. We called it “Purple Haze.”

    It was the most our white privilege and whatever was in our change jar could swing us.

    I’m sure I committed several violations for which I will be shortly called to account.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  29. I’ll also ask for a “climate changer” And when they ask for the recipe, I’ll say “gotcha! there is no such thing”. Don’t start with the “dude, the climate does change”, you know what I meant.

    felipe (098e97)

  30. omg that’s so racist it’s positively scandalous

    thank God Mr. Cuban is on the front lines tacking all the flack

    meanwhilst – comma – I’m a mix me up a vodka sprite with a splash of cranberry

    it’s a holiday weekend you know

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  31. You’re en fuego, felipe!

    elissa (b7fb30)

  32. 27. …The deal-breaker has to be teh tramp stamp on the lower back

    Comment by Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 5/25/2014 @ 6:47 pm

    If it’s gotten to that point, the tramp stamp could be the salvation of the two hour motel stay relationship.

    “Shaddup, I’m trying to absorb the deep message of this tattoo here!”

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  33. Another drink:

    “The racist”

    jigger of Rebel yell
    jigger of Rumplemintz

    felipe (098e97)

  34. oops … *taking* all the flack I mean

    and

    I never had Hawaiian vodka my whole life cheap or otherwise

    my bucket list is long

    and yet i persevere

    happyfeet (8ce051)

  35. Girls who get tramp stamps and other tats think they are hugely significant. They will tell you about the deep significance.

    I discovered this mostly at weekday baseball games. When, what they hey, I have nothing better to do, the vendors have nothing to do, let me buy you a beer and you can explain your tats.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  36. Thanks, elissa, but you prolly should distance yerself, now that I invented the last one.

    Ok, one for “the old timers”

    The “Gobal warmer”

    A shot of George dickel muddled with three cherries and three drops of Angustura bitters

    Shake with ice and serve neet.

    For the young, this is a reference to George Gobal.

    felipe (098e97)

  37. 36. …A shot of George dickel muddled with three cherries and three drops of Angustura bitters

    Shake with ice and serve neet.

    For the young, this is a reference to George Gobal.

    Comment by felipe (098e97) — 5/25/2014 @ 7:04 pm

    This is not for the young, felipe.

    I take it I can substitute another decent Kentucky bourbon, should the need arise?

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  38. Summer is upon us. Hence the daisy dukes, tank tops, and apparently the ball peen hammers judging by the bruising.

    Yeah. Spotted the tattoos, too.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  39. elissa – You have good taste.

    In high school, one of my sons dated a girl with a tramp stamp and tongue stud. About ten years ago. One she started to explain the stud to me and I just stopped her mid-stream. TMI. I already understood what that was about.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  40. Why isn’t the “I have Daddy issues” tattoo more common? It would be more honest.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  41. “I take it I can substitute another decent Kentucky bourbon, should the need arise”?

    If you do, kindly amend the name, e.g.:

    Using Wild Turkey = “Wild Gobal warmer”

    Using Evan Williams = “Evan’s Gobal warmer”

    You get the idea.

    —Drink responsibly—

    felipe (098e97)

  42. Will do, felipe.

    Steve57 (4e729f)

  43. Wow! If there were more people like Stephen A. Smith, things would be a lot better in our society. He sure got it right about how to succeed; every kid should hear that in school and from their parents.

    Ken in Camarillo (2c0dee)

  44. Steven A. Smith reminds me of the guys I work with – no BS, straight-forward tradesmen who get the job done and go home. I’m not the white guy, I’m the guy who takes the extra step to help keep them safe. Racism accusation, checking privilege, etc. does not get the job done.

    OmegaPaladin (f4a293)


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