The world of sports commentary recently got a little hotter. Thanks to a fiery back-and-forth between Stephen A. Smith and former MLB closer Jonathan Papelbon. It all started with Smith’s comments on Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout’s injury struggles. That’s when Smith questioned Trout’s dedication compared to athletes in other sports, a take that didn’t sit well with many, including Papelbon. 

Papelbon took to social platforms to criticize Smith and his comments. This struck a nerve with the ESPN personality. While Smith unloaded on Papelbon, he commented on Papelbon’s MLB career and his relevance in today’s age. 

Stephen A. Smith Suggests a Potential Motive Behind Jonathan Papelbon’s “Disrespectful” Words 

He said, “I understand that now that your baseball career is over you’re pretty irrelevant and as a result of that you have aspirations to get at me because I’m going to get you the clicks that you said I’m already trying to get.” Now that might hurt. Smith then went on to talk about his media muscle, highlighting his massive social media following and established platforms, essentially saying, “I don’t need you, bro.”

Smith’s response hints at a potential angle here. Is Papelbon genuinely concerned about protecting Trout’s reputation? Or is he just trying to latch onto Smith’s massive audience? Well, it seems like Smith thinks it’s the latter, implying that Papelbon and his “compatriots” are just being “disrespectful” to grab attention.

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Here’s what Smith shared addressing this subject. He shared, “You [Papelbon] have aspiration to get at me because I’m going to get you the clicks that you said I’m already trying to get by the way I’ve been getting them without you I have over 14 so 14 million social media followers I own and operate this podcast SL show plus I got a day job.”

What Started This Fire? – Mike Trout’s Health

This total fiasco started with Smith’s initial comments on the Los Angeles Angels star, Mike Trout. Smith suggested that Trout’s commitment to the game might not be as strong as athletes in more physically demanding sports like football. This opinion drew criticism from fans and analysts, including Papelbon, who felt Smith was disrespecting a true baseball hero.

This started a fiery argument with both sides digging in. As of now, they stand at a juncture where this controversy is far from over. Will Papelbon continue to jab at Smith in hopes of staying relevant? Will Smith ignore him as he claims? While these questions remain unanswered, one point becomes clear – there is no tolerance for any disrespectful remarks in the world of sports.