Colin Kaepernick, and his supporters, might actually want to thank Stephen A. Smith.
Since Kaepernick's NFL sanctioned workout went up in smoke, Smith has used large chunks of his "First Take" soiree, and ESPN Radio show, to offer a frenetic defense of himself from critics who ripped him for criticizing the exiled quarterback. SAS claims Kaepernick turned an opportunity into another protest.
Smith, who said Kaepernick is more interested in being "a martyr," was characterized as a Gasbag carrying the NFL's water _ a Roger Goodell toady. Some of the characterizations were a lot harsher. What bothered Smith most? "When they question my blackness," Smith said multiple times on the air. He took all this very personally. On ESPN Radio, SAS addressed his bosses saying he was apologizing "for what I'm going to say."
Then, he got more specific: "To (Panthers safety and Kaepernick confidant) Eric Reid, God help you." It sure sounded like Smith was going to huff ... puff ... and blow Reid's house down. Reid, who was a teammate of Kaepernick in San Francisco, said Smith is "tap-dancing for the NFL."
SAS was also doing a Tango with Kaepernick.
Without Smith being ostensibly cast as a traitor, this chapter of the Kaepernick saga fizzles. Yet on radio alone, Smith spent nearly three entire shows (six hours), mostly defending himself from the Eric Reids of the world while also opening himself up to callers who disagreed with him. On "First Take," Kaepernick talk dominated the show. On Thursday, Terrell Owens appeared on "First Take" and drilled Smith. "Max almost seems blacker than you," Owens said about Smith's co-host Max Kellerman, who has been more sympathetic to Kaepernick.
Until Saturday's fiasco, Kaepernick had faded into irrelevancy. The battle lines for his fight against the NFL had been drawn a long time ago. This time around, the difference was Smith becoming a major part of the story. According to Kaepernick's supporters, SAS is a villain turning his back on his people.
Yes, Smith became a human punching bag, albeit one with an effective mouth who sits on top of two far-reaching platforms: a nationally televised TV show, and a nationally televised radio simulcast.
Smith has a major hand in both setting the agenda and delivering it. While most "journalists" would not be thrilled about being stuck in the middle, this worked for Smith and ESPN. Monday, when at least 50% of the show was about Kaepernick/Smith, over 700,000 viewers tuned in, a much larger than normal "First Take" audience. ESPN carried the momentum to more platforms.
As if he had not run his mouth enough, Smith went on ESPN-98.7's "The Michael Kay Show" Tuesday to continue defending himself. And no one should forget that millions of viewers watched SAS' post-workout "analysis" last Saturday on social media.
So, Stephen A. Smith shouldn't be so upset. He may have had his "blackness" questioned by the pro-Kaepernick forces, but he delivered for the suits at ESPN who are paying him all that moo-la-dee.
Isn't this what it's all about?
