{"id":589642,"date":"2021-07-13T10:06:33","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=589642"},"modified":"2021-07-13T10:06:35","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:06:35","slug":"espns-stephen-a-smith-apologizes-after-saying-shohei-ohtanis-need-for-an-interpreter-is-harming-the-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espns-stephen-a-smith-apologizes-after-saying-shohei-ohtanis-need-for-an-interpreter-is-harming-the-game\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith Apologizes After Saying Shohei Ohtani\u2019s Need For An Interpreter Is \u2018Harming The Game\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fespns-stephen-a-smith-apologizes-after-saying-shohei-ohtanis-need-for-an-interpreter-is-harming-the-game%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=589642&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1196852505.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>Stephen A. Smith is paid to talk, and he does so very well. But every once in a while, all that talking can get you in trouble.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On Monday, Smith was on ESPN\u2019s \u201cFirst Take\u201d \u2014 as he is every weekday \u2014 when the topic of Los Angeles Angels star pitcher and hitter Shohei Ohtani was brought up. Smith was asked if it was good for Major League Baseball that Ohtani has become the sport\u2019s number one attraction. Smith \u2014 well known for never holding back \u2014 took a controversial angle.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe fact that you got a foreign player that doesn\u2019t speak English, that needs an interpreter \u2014 believe it or not \u2014 I think contributes to harming the game to some degree, when that\u2019s your box office appeal,\u201d Smith <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/angels\/2021\/07\/12\/stephen-a-smith-shohei-ohtani-dude-needs-interpreter\/7939597002\/\"><span>said<\/span><\/a><span>. \u201cIt needs to be somebody like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, those guys. And unfortunately at this moment in time, that\u2019s not the case.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ohtani is from Japan, and while he is not fluent, he can speak English. He also speaks Spanish.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cWhen you talk about an audience gravitating to the tube, or to the ballpark, to actually watch you, I don\u2019t think it helps that the No. 1 face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he\u2019s saying, in this country,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to say.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.0280898876404\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Stephen A. Smith says Shohei Ohtani needing an interpreter &#8220;contributes to harming&#8221; baseball \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2J5jRGartx\">pic.twitter.com\/2J5jRGartx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JordanHeckFF\/status\/1414641371948982278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 12, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>It was a very bad take from Smith, who usually has a very firm grip on the happenings of the sports world, and is generally fair in his criticism of athletes. But he missed the mark on Ohtani \u2014 and badly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Smith attempted to clarify his stance after the show, saying that his comments were \u201cmisinterpreted.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cSome of the greatest players in the world are foreign players. Tatis [San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.] comes to my mind, and Ohtani is the second coming of Babe Ruth,\u201d Smith said in a video posted to Twitter. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I was trying to say. I\u2019m talking about the marketability and the promotion of the sport.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"5.2142857142857\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On my earlier comments about Ohtani <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FM0vnDDXBB\">pic.twitter.com\/FM0vnDDXBB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stephenasmith\/status\/1414661475373920267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 12, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Major League Baseball has a problem \u2014 they aren\u2019t attracting the younger generation of fans.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The game of baseball lacks the highlight plays of the NBA and the big hits of the NFL, all while taking around three hours to complete a game. Most adults don\u2019t have time to watch a three-hour baseball game on a weeknight, and the younger generation of fans are too busy watching YouTube to care.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A superstar is desperately needed in the game of baseball to give fans a reason to tune in.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ohtani is that superstar.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Many have not been paying attention to what Ohtani has been doing on the baseball diamond, but they will soon.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Last week, <\/span><span>Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to be selected to the All-Star Game as both a hitter and a pitcher. He\u2019ll get the start on the mound for the American League in Tuesday\u2019s All-Star Game while also batting leadoff for the AL.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Ohtani also participated in Monday night\u2019s 2021 Home Run Derby. He lost in the first-round of the Derby to Washington Nationals star Juan Soto, but based on the attention around him at Coors Field, his early departure was irrelevant.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know if I should be preparing,\u201d Home Derby participant Trey Mancini <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/page\/mlbmain-howshoheiohtani\/how-shohei-ohtani-won-night-winning-home-run-derby\">said<\/a>. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want to miss Shohei.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Ohtani is must see television. At the halfway mark of the baseball season, Ohtani is hitting .279 with a league-leading 33 home runs, 70 RBI\u2019s, 65 runs scored, and 12 steals. On the mound, Ohtani has a 3.49 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 67 innings.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>He\u2019s the modern day Babe Ruth.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Smith was blasted on social media after his comments began to trend. On Monday evening, Smith issued an apology:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"21\">\n<p><i><span>Let me apologize right now. As I\u2019m watching things unfold, let me say that I never intend to offend ANY COMMUNITY, particularly the Asian Community \u2014 and especially SHOHEI Ohtani, himself. As an African-American, keenly aware of the damage stereotyping has done to many in this country, it should\u2019ve elevated my sensitivities even more. Based on my words, I failed in that regard and it\u2019s on me, and me alone! Ohtani is one of the brightest stars in all of sports. He is making a difference, as it pertains to inclusiveness and leadership. I should have embraced that in my comments. Instead, I screwed up. In this day and age, with all the violence being perpetrated against the Asian Community, my comments \u2014 albeit unintentional \u2014 were clearly insensitive and regrettable. There\u2019s simply no other way to put it. I\u2019m sincerely sorry for any angst I\u2019ve caused with my comments on First Take this morning. Again, I am sorry. And I\u2019ll happily reiterate these words more extensively tomorrow morning, as well. <\/span><\/i><span>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"4.7835051546392\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I&#8217;m sincerely sorry. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pANjWTrD4X\">pic.twitter.com\/pANjWTrD4X<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stephenasmith\/status\/1414711083252789248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 12, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Smith will undoubtedly have more to say on Tuesday\u2019s edition of \u201cFirst Take,\u201d but he missed the mark on Monday.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i>Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i>member<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stephen A. Smith is paid to talk, and he does so very well. But every once in a while, all that talking can get you in trouble.\u00a0On Monday, Smith was &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2314547,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1196852505.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith Apologizes After Saying Shohei Ohtani\u2019s Need For An Interpreter Is \u2018Harming The Game\u2019","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-589642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1196852505.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith Apologizes After Saying Shohei Ohtani\u2019s Need For An Interpreter Is \u2018Harming The Game\u2019","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=589642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2314547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=589642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=589642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=589642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}