"Stephen A. Smith, a prominent figure in American sports media, is renowned for his roles as a television personality, radio host, and journalist. His expertise lies primarily in basketball, with regular appearances on ESPN's NBA coverage, including SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and game broadcasts. He also contributes to ESPN through his self-titled radio show, "The Stephen A. Smith Show," and as a commentator on "First Take." Beyond television and radio, Smith showcases his writing talents as a columnist for ESPN and The Philadelphia Inquirer."
October 14, 1967: Stephen A. Smith is Born
Stephen A. Smith, American sports television personality, sports radio host, and sports journalist, was born on October 14, 1967.
1986: High School Graduation
Stephen A. Smith graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Queens in 1986.
1991: College Graduation
Stephen A. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication from Winston-Salem State University in 1991.
1992: Loss of Older Brother
Stephen A. Smith's older brother, Basil, died in a car accident in 1992.
1994: Career Beginning at The Philadelphia Inquirer
Stephen A. Smith began his writing career at The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1994, covering the Philadelphia 76ers.
1999: Television Debut on CNN/SI
Stephen A. Smith began his television career on the cable network CNN/SI in 1999.
2004: NHL Abolishes Ties, a Fact Unbeknownst to Stephen A. Smith
Following the 2004-2005 NHL lockout, the league abolished tie games. This rule change, however, seemed to escape the notice of Stephen A. Smith, who would later make comments suggesting ties still existed in hockey.
April 11, 2005: Radio Show Launch on WEPN
Stephen A. Smith began hosting a weekday radio show on WEPN in New York City on April 11, 2005.
August 2005: Host of "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith"
Stephen A. Smith began hosting "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith", a daily hour-long show on ESPN, in August 2005.
January 2007: Cancellation of "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith"
Stephen A. Smith's show on ESPN, "Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith", was canceled in January 2007.
February 2, 2007: Stephen A. Smith Makes Acting Debut in "General Hospital" Cameo
On February 2, 2007, Stephen A. Smith fulfilled a longtime dream by making a cameo appearance on the soap opera "General Hospital," playing a television reporter.
August 23, 2007: Demotion at The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer announced that Stephen A. Smith would be demoted from columnist to general assignment reporter on August 23, 2007.
September 20, 2007: Radio Show Time Slot Change and National Broadcast
On September 20, 2007, Stephen A. Smith's radio show on WEPN shifted to the 2-4 p.m. slot, with the second hour broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio.
2007: Stephen A. Smith Appears in Chris Rock's Film "I Think I Love My Wife"
In 2007, Stephen A. Smith landed a role in Chris Rock's film "I Think I Love My Wife," showcasing his versatility beyond sports commentary.
April 2008: End of Radio Show on WEPN
Stephen A. Smith's radio show on WEPN ended in April 2008 as he sought to focus on his television career.
2008: Departure from The Philadelphia Inquirer and Launch of stephena.com
Stephen A. Smith's relationship with The Philadelphia Inquirer ended in 2008, coinciding with the launch of his blog, stephena.com.
April 17, 2009: Departure Announcement from ESPN
Stephen A. Smith announced his departure from ESPN on his website on April 17, 2009.
May 1, 2009: Departure from ESPN
Stephen A. Smith officially left ESPN on May 1, 2009, following unsuccessful contract negotiations.
November 2009: On-Air Contributor for Fox Sports Radio
Stephen A. Smith joined Fox Sports Radio as an on-air contributor in November 2009.
January 4, 2010: Morning Show Host on Fox Sports Radio
Stephen A. Smith replaced Steve Czaban as the morning show host on Fox Sports Radio on January 4, 2010.
February 2010: Return to The Philadelphia Inquirer
Stephen A. Smith returned to The Philadelphia Inquirer in February 2010 after winning an arbitrator's ruling, agreeing to remove political views from his website and cable news appearances.
February 1, 2011: Return to ESPN as Columnist and Radio Host
Stephen A. Smith returned to ESPN as a columnist for ESPN.com and host for weekday local radio shows on February 1, 2011.
2011: NBA Insider for Fox Sports Radio
Stephen A. Smith became the resident NBA insider for Fox Sports Radio in early 2011, ending his morning show.
April 24, 2012: End of Radio Show on LA 710 ESPN
April 24, 2012, marked Stephen A. Smith's last show for LA 710 ESPN.
April 30, 2012: Joins ESPN's "First Take"
Stephen A. Smith joined ESPN's "First Take" on a permanent, five-days-per-week basis on April 30, 2012, under a new "Embrace Debate" format with Skip Bayless.
May 2012: Launch of "The Stephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco Show"
Stephen A. Smith replaced Robin Lundberg alongside Ryan Ruocco to debut "The Stephen A. Smith & Ryan Ruocco Show" on 98.7 WEPN in May 2012.
2013: Departure from ESPN for Sirius XM Radio
Stephen A. Smith left ESPN for Sirius XM Radio's Mad Dog Sports Channel in the summer of 2013.
July 25, 2014: Controversial Remarks on Domestic Abuse
Stephen A. Smith made controversial remarks on "First Take" on July 25, 2014, suggesting that women may provoke domestic abuse, sparking criticism.
July 29, 2014: Suspension from ESPN
Following his controversial remarks on domestic abuse, Stephen A. Smith was suspended by ESPN for a week on July 29, 2014.
August 6, 2014: Return to ESPN after Suspension
Stephen A. Smith returned to ESPN on August 6, 2014, after serving a week-long suspension for his controversial comments.
2014: Chip Kelly's Roster Moves Raise Eyebrows
In 2014, Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly made several controversial roster decisions, including releasing DeSean Jackson and letting Jeremy Maclin leave in free agency. These moves, particularly the release of Jackson, raised questions about potential racial bias in Kelly's decision-making.
2014: Multi-Year Deal with ESPN
Stephen A. Smith signed a multi-year deal with ESPN in late 2014, earning him over $3 million annually.
2014: Stephen A. Smith Becomes "The Little Voice in Your Stomach" in Oberto Beef Jerky Commercials
Beginning in 2014, Stephen A. Smith took on the humorous role of "The Little Voice in Your Stomach" in a series of Oberto beef jerky commercials. These commercials often featured prominent athletes like Richard Sherman and Louie Vito.
March 9, 2015: Stephen A. Smith Sparks Controversy with Comments on Chip Kelly's Roster Moves
On March 9, 2015, Stephen A. Smith questioned the Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly's decision to trade LeSean McCoy, suggesting it might make some players "uncomfortable." This comment ignited a debate about potential racial bias in Kelly's decisions, particularly regarding the departure of Black players.
May 8, 2015: LeSean McCoy Echoes Concerns About Chip Kelly's Roster Decisions
In an interview published on May 8, 2015, LeSean McCoy, who had been traded from the Eagles, stated his belief that some of Chip Kelly's roster decisions were racially motivated. This added fuel to the ongoing discussion about Kelly's decision-making process.
June 11, 2015: Stephen A. Smith Faces Backlash for Sexist Comment About Female Soccer Players
On June 11, 2015, Stephen A. Smith made a sexist remark on SportsCenter about female soccer players turning their heads to avoid messing up their hair during a free kick. This comment drew immediate criticism and accusations of sexism, leading Smith to apologize on Twitter.
March 31, 2016: Stephen A. Smith Returns to "General Hospital" as Recurring Character Brick
Stephen A. Smith returned to "General Hospital" on March 31, 2016, this time in a recurring role as Brick. He has continued to make guest appearances as the character annually.
November 5, 2016: Stephen A. Smith Joins Top Rank's Broadcasting Team for Pacquiao vs. Vargas Fight
On November 5, 2016, Stephen A. Smith joined the broadcasting team for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas boxing match, marking his entry into boxing commentary.
January 17, 2017: Return to ESPN with Daily Radio Program
Stephen A. Smith returned to ESPN from Sirius XM's Mad Dog Sports channel on January 17, 2017, with his daily two-hour program broadcast on various platforms.
August 2017: Stephen A. Smith Unleashes His "Stay off the Weed!" Mantra on Zach Randolph
Stephen A. Smith's strong stance against marijuana use among athletes, despite its legality in some states, came to the forefront in August 2017 when Zach Randolph was arrested for possession with intent to sell. Smith's now-famous "Stay off the weed!" admonishment was directed at Randolph, emphasizing his disapproval.
2017: Stephen A. Smith's Catchphrases and Aaron Rodgers Fandom Take Center Stage on "First Take"
Throughout 2017, Stephen A. Smith's signature catchphrases, like "blasphemous" and his emphatic pronouncements of Aaron Rodgers as a "baaaaaaaad man," became even more prominent on "First Take." He even donned Rodgers' jersey on the show, sparking reactions from audiences.
2018: Stephen A. Smith's "Stay off the Weed!" Becomes a Catchphrase After J.R. Smith's NBA Finals Blunder
During the 2018 NBA Finals, J.R. Smith's crucial late-game mistake of dribbling out the clock while the score was tied led Stephen A. Smith to jokingly suggest that such a blunder could only be the result of being high. His emphatic "Stay off the weed!" directed at J.R. Smith, while in jest, resonated with audiences and further solidified the phrase as a part of his commentary style.
May 2019: D'Angelo Russell's Airport Marijuana Citation Draws Stephen A. Smith's Ire
In May 2019, D'Angelo Russell's citation for marijuana possession at LaGuardia Airport triggered another "Stay off the weed!" outburst from Stephen A. Smith, reiterating his firm stance on the issue, even for lesser offenses.
December 11, 2019: Stephen A. Smith Reveals He Has Two Daughters but Remains Tight-Lipped About Past Engagement
In a candid interview with GQ on December 11, 2019, Stephen A. Smith revealed that he has two daughters, aged 10 and 11 at the time. He also briefly mentioned a past engagement but declined to elaborate on why the marriage didn't happen, citing his job and finances as reasons for his reticence.
2019: Stephen A. Smith Becomes a UFC Commentator as ESPN Secures Broadcasting Rights
In 2019, Stephen A. Smith took on the role of UFC commentator, expanding his portfolio as ESPN became the UFC's television broadcaster.
2020: Stephen A. Smith Lends His Commentary to the 92nd Academy Awards After-Party
In 2020, Stephen A. Smith took on a different kind of commentary role, covering the after-party of the 92nd Academy Awards for ABC.
June 10, 2021: Stephen A. Smith Makes His Foray into Soccer Coverage with Euro 2020 Commentary
On June 10, 2021, Stephen A. Smith surprised many by diving into the world of soccer coverage, selecting his Euro 2020 team and showcasing his enthusiasm for the sport.
June 14, 2021: Stephen A. Smith Continues Soccer Commentary with "Ain't No Way" Segment
Stephen A. Smith further explored soccer commentary on June 14, 2021, with his "Ain't No Way" segment, solidifying his presence in a sport he had rarely covered before.
June 2021: Alex Caruso's Marijuana Arrest in Texas Prompts Another "Stay off the Weed!" from Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith remained consistent in his disapproval of athletes' marijuana use, as seen in June 2021 when Alex Caruso's arrest for marijuana possession in Texas led to yet another passionate "Stay off the weed!" declaration.
2021: Stephen A. Smith Dips His Toes into Hockey Commentary as ESPN Acquires NHL Rights
With ESPN securing NHL broadcasting rights in 2021, Stephen A. Smith began covering hockey more frequently on "First Take" and "Stephen A.'s World." He offered his takes on playoff performances, drew comparisons between hockey and basketball teams, and even hosted NHL player P.K. Subban as a guest.
2022: Stephen A. Smith Continues to Explore the World of Hockey Commentary
Stephen A. Smith maintained his presence in hockey commentary in 2022, further expanding his knowledge and opinions on the sport as ESPN continued its NHL coverage.