Stephen A. Smith is Still Lying About White Privilege, Tim Tebow
Though Tim Tebow's dream of playing backup tight end for the league minimum shattered Tuesday morning, Stephen A. Smith and race-baiters alike are still yelling -- without evidence -- about racism.
On First Take, Smith labeled Tebow the embodiment of white privilege, even after the Jags cut him.
"Opportunity. People think, he didn't get the job," Stephen A. Smith said on Tuesday. "Well I got news for you, Max: there's a whole bunch of black folks that never even get the opportunity."
A whole bunch of black folks that never even get the opportunity. What does that mean? Where in the NFL or in sports do black athletes not get equal opportunities?
If you know, please tell me. But first, tell Stephen A. Smith. Then, he could use the information to back up his claims. He could use some evidence.
Smith also bragged that his previous comments about Tebow and white privilege may have led to Tebow's release.
"I've heard through the grapevine that Urban Meyer was very taken aback by my position with Tim Tebow weeks ago."
Notice Smith never talks about the bigger picture when he brings up skin color. Instead, he zones in on a specific topic that involves a white player in the NFL, NBA, or media business and then uses it to make an unfounded generalization about race.
In essence, Smith is a dishonest coward who calls out racism where there isn't any. White privilege does not exist in sports anymore on the macro level, as ESPN tries to report. Ben Shapiro put it best: "The demand for racism continues to outstrip supply." That's true in America, online, in Hollywood, and throughout sports. And it bothers media members so much. Without claims of racism, their brands are diminished.
Do you see how desperate outlets are to find racism right now?
Now to reality:
Approximately 70% of NFL players are black. In the NBA, people of color make up around 81.7% of players. Smith is the face of ESPN, which has disproportionately promoted black talents since 2016. Smith himself makes around $12 million a year, nearly double the salary of the second-highest on-air talent, Mike Greenberg, a white man.
Though Smith argues otherwise, the Jags didn't give Tebow an opportunity because he is white. Tebow is one of the most popular college QBs ever. He also happens to be a friend of Urban Meyer, the Jags' head coach. As I argued the last time Smith targeted Tebow, a white guy getting an opportunity that he doesn't deserve isn't "white privilege":
Speaking of privilege, ESPN gave Stephen A. Smith a pass last month for his racist comments aimed toward Angels' star Shohei Ohtani after Smith reminded everyone he, himself, is black:
A get-out-of-jail-free card -- they are nice, if you can get one.
These people -- Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, Mike Florio, Jemele Hill, Mike Freeman, Joy Reid, the hosts on CNN, and the writers at the New York Times -- are sick. They have successfully degraded everyone down to their skin color. That's all they see -- white or black, token or privilege.
It's all such a lie. Racism is viewing or treating people differently because of their skin color. In other words, racism is precisely how Stephen A. Smith judges the people he covers in his commentary.
Until Smith, Maria Taylor, Jalen Rose, or any other one of these race-baiters can cite data that the NFL, NBA, or ESPN discriminate against black people, I suggest their racist viewpoints become the target of criticism.
For more on this topic, read my June column about the rising obsession with skin color in sports and politics.