Stephen A. Smith recently found himself in a situation he hadn’t anticipated, and it’s something that has quickly become the talk of the town. I was just sitting there when LeBron James, unexpectedly I might add, approached me. He wanted to discuss how I speak about his son, and let’s just say his words weren’t quite FCC-friendly. I’ve been reflecting on this for hours now, and to be honest, I hadn’t planned on bringing it up. But it was impossible to ignore the buzz since everyone—from folks at ESPN to my own agent—told me the encounter had gone viral.
This wasn’t just any basketball legend who approached me; this was a concerned father. And I’ve got nothing but respect for LeBron in that regard. By every standard, he’s a devoted family man who deeply cares for his children. Evidently, he’d heard—or thought he’d heard—some remarks from me that he didn’t take kindly to, and he decided to let me know.
For clarity, LeBron’s close associates, including his agent Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, who works closely with him, have my contact information. I would have gladly taken a call from him. If LeBron wanted a face-to-face, I would have hopped on a plane for a direct conversation. However, courtside was where he decided to address his concerns. What happened wasn’t a simple chat; it was a direct confrontation. And though unexpected, it’s another chapter in the never-dull world of sports media.
