For causes that solely he can perceive, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith fancies himself as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. Whereas Smith tries to painting himself as some kind of centrist, Smith’s efficiency on Thursday’s First Take was so nutty it makes MSNBC look level-headed by comparability. In keeping with Smith, the Mafia-related unlawful betting and poker scandals rocking the NBA are a part of some revenge plot hatched by President Trump towards his critics.
Smith started, “We all know what world that I stay in, when it comes to politics. What number of instances, for one incident after one other, have I stated Trump is coming. He is coming. I’ll say it on nationwide tv once more. Unhealthy Bunny is performing on the Tremendous Bowl and hastily you listening to ICE goes to be there trying to have interaction in mass deportations.”
The truth that ICE is routinely on the Tremendous Bowl didn’t matter to Smith. Nor did the truth that this investigation started underneath the Biden administration as he tried to painting the timing as suspicious, “Massive evening for the NBA Wembanyama placed on a present that has now been smeared as a result of we’re speaking about this story.”
Does Smith suppose the FBI ought to have waited longer than it needed to shield the integrity of the NBA?
Turning to co-panelist Monica McNutt, Smith requested and answered his personal query, “Why am I glad you are right here, Monica? As a result of do not be stunned if the WNBA is subsequent on his checklist. As a result of while you’ve bought all of those protests which have been going on the market and other people which have been protesting towards him and what have you ever, this man is coming. He is coming. And I have been saying it for a very long time. And to me, that is the most recent nugget of proof that we’re speaking about proper right here.”
He then claimed that his sizzling take is clearly true and anyone who thinks in any other case is simply placing their head within the sand, “That is to not query the legitimacy of the case. We do not know. We’re all sitting up right here and we’re saying that we do not know. However anyone that has been round him, anyone that has talked to him, anyone that has seen his reactions from the sports activities leagues and the positions that individuals have taken, they don’t seem to be stunned at what is going on on at this time.”
Smith’s factually-challenged diatribe continued as he turned to FBI Director Kash Patel, “I am watching a press convention with the director of the FBI. Inform me once we’ve seen that. We have seen folks, we have seen accusations earlier than. We have seen athletes get in hassle with the regulation earlier than. You do not see the director of the FBI having a press convention. It isn’t coincidental. It isn’t an accident. It is a assertion and it is a warning that extra is coming.”
FBI administrators do indictment-related press conferences on a regular basis and, once more, Smith is omitting the Mafia angle to the story. This isn’t Barry Bonds allegedly perjuring himself about steroids.
Nonetheless, Smith continued, “And that is what they’re saying right here. And everyone higher get I am simply telling you it is as severe because it will get. This ain’t the platform for me to get into it the best way I’ll get into it. However I have been saying he is coming. He is coming. As a result of in his eyes, of us attempt to throw him in jail. In his eyes, he is harmless. They attempt to put me behind bars. I am getting everyone.”
As soon as once more, Smith insisted that his rant represents mainstream opinion, “He isn’t taking part in. And so this in lots of people’s eyes, discuss to folks within the NBA, discuss to folks within the NFL, discuss to folks on the earth of sports activities, they suppose that is just like the tip of the iceberg. These are the form of phrases which can be popping out of individuals’s mouths. It isn’t a shock. It’s totally disheartening. It’s totally regarding. We do not know the place that is going to go, however that is simply the tip of the iceberg. Everyone’s higher brace themselves as a result of he is coming.”
If NFL and WNBA gamers are caught up with the Mafia in unlawful betting then, sure, it ought to simply be the tip of the iceberg.
Right here is the transcript for the October 23 present:
ESPN First Take
10/23/2025
STEPHEN A. SMITH: We all know what world that I stay in, when it comes to politics. What number of instances, for one incident after one other, have I stated Trump is coming. He is coming. I’ll say it on nationwide tv once more. Unhealthy Bunny is performing on the Tremendous Bowl and hastily you listening to ICE goes to be there trying to have interaction in mass deportations.
The Tremendous Bowl disrupting issues. Massive evening for the NBA Wembanyama placed on a present that has now been smeared as a result of we’re speaking about this story. Okay, bear in mind Trump has a protracted, lengthy historical past linked to the world of sports activities as a result of he had these casinos.
The place do you suppose of us will are available in half the time? I am not speaking about people. I am speaking in regards to the tradition. When folks wish to go to a on line casino, when folks wish to gamble, when folks wish to social gathering or regardless of the case could also be, this was his, form of, connection to that. Why am I glad you are right here, Monica? As a result of do not be stunned if the WNBA is subsequent on his checklist.
As a result of while you’ve bought all of those protests which have been going on the market and other people which have been protesting towards him and what have you ever, this man is coming. He is coming. And I have been saying it for a very long time. And to me, that is the most recent nugget of proof that we’re speaking about proper right here.
That is to not query the legitimacy of the case. We do not know. We’re all sitting up right here and we’re saying that we do not know. However anyone that has been round him, anyone that has talked to him, anyone that has seen his reactions from the sports activities leagues and the positions that individuals have taken, they don’t seem to be stunned at what is going on on at this time.
I am watching a press convention with the director of the FBI. Inform me once we’ve seen that. We have seen folks, we have seen accusations earlier than. We have seen athletes get in hassle with the regulation earlier than. You do not see the director of the FBI having a press convention. It isn’t coincidental. It isn’t an accident. It is a assertion and it is a warning that extra is coming.
And that is what they’re saying right here. And everyone higher get I am simply telling you it is as severe because it will get. This ain’t the platform for me to get into it the best way I’ll get into it. However I have been saying he is coming. He is coming. As a result of in his eyes, of us attempt to throw him in jail. In his eyes, he is harmless. They attempt to put me behind bars. I am getting everyone.
He isn’t taking part in. And so this in lots of people’s eyes, discuss to folks within the NBA, discuss to folks within the NFL, discuss to folks on the earth of sports activities, they suppose that is just like the tip of the iceberg. These are the form of phrases which can be popping out of individuals’s mouths.
It isn’t a shock. It’s totally disheartening. It’s totally regarding. We do not know the place that is going to go, however that is simply the tip of the iceberg. Everyone’s higher brace themselves as a result of he is coming.
