Stephen A. Smith, often in the news for his bold statements on the “First Take” show, made a different headline on Thursday.
At Yankee Stadium, before the match between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays, Smith had the honour of the ceremonial first pitch. To the astonishment of many, his throw didn’t reach the catcher directly but instead took a bounce.
The visibly disheartened media pro took the humorous route on Twitter, jokingly labelling his throw a “changeup.”
Controversies Surrounding Smith and Baseball
In a twist of fate, just a day before his pitching mishap, Smith found himself in a tangle with baseball aficionados. The issue was a segment on “First Take” where he questioned the reported $500 million contract for MLB’s Shohei Ohtani in the upcoming offseason.
He pointed out the lacklustre performance of the Angels despite boasting Ohtani in their lineup and claimed that the team wasn’t able to attract significant crowds. Baseball fans were quick to rectify his assertions, pointing out the revenue the Angels accrued directly because of Ohtani. Many went as far as suggesting Smith steer clear of baseball commentary altogether.
While Stephen A. Smith’s pitching won’t likely mend fences with the baseball community, it did lighten the mood with a touch of unintended comedy.
