Stephen Smith He’s not afraid to take on anyone, and that apparently includes the director of the FBI kash patel.
On the Thursday, October 23 episode of ESPN first takeSmith spoke out about the recent NBA betting scandal that saw the Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat star Terry Rozier arrested as part of a federal investigation into sports betting.
During the segment, Smith insinuated that US President donald trump is involved in the investigation.
“Trump is coming. He’s coming,” Smith, 58, said on the show. “Anyone who has seen their reactions in the sports leagues and the positions that people have taken, is not surprised by what is happening today… this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver made his first public comments on the ongoing betting scandal engulfing the league this week. “There is nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition,” Silver said during the NBA on Prime pregame broadcast on Friday, October 24. “So I had a hole […]
He continued: “I’m watching a press conference with the Director of the FBI. Tell me when we’ve seen that. We’ve seen accusations before, we’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the Director of the FBI giving a press conference. It’s not a coincidence, it’s not an accident. It’s a statement and it’s a warning that more is coming.”
Patel apparently didn’t like Smith’s comments much and went on Fox News to talk to Laura Ingraham in Ingraham’s angle later that same day, responding to the fierce accusations.
Stephen A. Smith and Kash Patel
fake imagesPatel chuckled when Ingraham asked him about Smith’s comments, saying they were “the dumbest thing I’ve heard from anyone in modern history.”
“I’m the director of the FBI, I decide which arrests to make and which ones not to make,” Patel said. “We arrest people for crimes.”
Ingraham laughed as she wrapped up the segment.
Smith took a slight step back from his original statement in a social media post Thursday night, responding to Patel’s comments on Fox News.
“There’s nothing to jump forward here, people! I never denied or failed to mention that this FBI investigation has been going on for years,” Smith said. via X. “I said Trump wasn’t about to stop it. He doesn’t pardon anyone because the man isn’t playing. He’s coming!! In no way am I even trying to have an opinion on the legitimacy of this matter. I don’t know the facts of the case. I’m just saying don’t expect POTUS to pardon anyone in this matter. And I stand by that. That’s all!”
But Smith, of course, wasn’t done.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat star Terry Rozier have been arrested in connection with a federal gambling investigation. Both Billups, 49, and Rozier, 31, were arrested on Thursday, October 23, authorities announced. Billups was charged with an illegal poker operation linked to the mafia. He was arrested in […]
On his radio show on Friday, October 24, he commented on the situation again, clarifying his position and making it clear that he still feels the same way about Trump’s participation in the investigation.
“I would say he’s the director of the FBI, let’s just say I’m not trying to get on his bad side,” Smith said. “But having said that, I still stand by what I said. And I’m not going to change my mind.
He continued: “This investigation has been going on since Biden was in office. They talked about how these things have been going on since 2019, which is when Trump was in office. I’m not implying that Kash Patel doesn’t have any legitimacy to the case she’s pursuing against these individuals…and I’m not going to argue with an FBI director. I’m simply pointing out that, at the end of the day, you have a president in office who has a longer connection to sports. world, full of friends and enemies. And those who are his enemies, he doesn’t mind bothering even a little. And when it comes to the NBA brand, he doesn’t mind.”
Smith, known for his strong opinions on sports, has become more involved in politics in recent months. In September, he released a new podcast, straight handlewhere Smith discusses politics and social issues, a change from his usual sports content.