Well-paid ESPN Idiot says Ohtani bad for baseball because he needs an interpreter

[yk9001]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/stephen-a-smith-fan-reaction-xenophobic-comments-interpreter-shohei-ohtani

[Jason]

WTF does requiring an interpreter have to do with anything? Smith is a total douche 

[Lou]

So does Pedro Martinez.

[Dtwncbad]

I don’t ever have to understand a word Ohtani says to have him be my favorite player right now (with apologies to Mike Trout).

The irony of Smith’s comments is the more I clearly understand exactly what Smith says, the more I have zero interest in him as a “journalist.”

[Angel Oracle]

Stephen A Smith might as well be the 45 year-old bat boy.

[Angelsjunky]

I wouldn't be surprised if he loses his job over this, or at least has a stern talking to.

[Dtwncbad]

4 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Stephen A Smith might as well be the 45 year-old bat boy.

He has never known ANYTHING about baseball.  He is a buffoon in general, but especially when it comes to baseball.

[bloodbrother]

Just now, Angelsjunky said:

I wouldn't be surprised if he loses his job over this, or at least has a stern talking to.

He's gonna get a raise if anything. What network is hosting the HR Derby tonight again? Who is the big name in said derby? Oh right

Stephen A doing his part to get more conversation going around Ohtani right before he's set to hit nukes on the network he works for later tonight.

[jsnpritchett]

Just a few days ago, Smith complained that MLB wasn't doing enough to market Ohtani.  So, yeah, just ignore this moron.

https://de-de.facebook.com/stephena/videos/what-is-mlb-doing-about-ohtani/199752258730167/?__so__=watchlist&__rv__=related_videos

[DCAngelsFan]

He crossed the line from "contrarian" to "full-on-idiot" with this take

I dunno - I guess some non-baseball fans might want to push back against his exposure, (and Yankees fans might still have a case of the ass, since they still seem to think they deserved him, somehow)

But what Ohtani is doing isn't qualified - he's not some sideshow act like "he's great -- for a Japanese player" - what he's doing is simply phenomenal and historic and if you can't admire what he's doing and the way he's doing it, you're just not even a baseball fan and should just sit down and shut up.

 

[Blarg]

Mr. Smith's take should result in time off. 

[tdawg87]

What a c*nt.

[bloodbrother]

Him and Skip's entire shtick is to just say stupid shit for the sole purpose of generating clicks, views, and conversation on social media. Nobody with any common sense takes anything these 2 say seriously.

[Blarg]

What he said has no excuses. 

[aznhockeyguy]

Idiot loudmouth says idiotic things, news at 11. 

[St1ck]

1 hour ago, yk9001 said:

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/stephen-a-smith-fan-reaction-xenophobic-comments-interpreter-shohei-ohtani

@Jay works for ESPN? 

[ten ocho recon scout]

1 hour ago, Angelsjunky said:

I wouldn't be surprised if he loses his job over this, or at least has a stern talking to.

Normally id say "thats stupid". But cancel culture should be equal.

In 2021, what hes saying is "too far"

[ten ocho recon scout]

as far as what was said here, keep in mind smith isnt a baseball guy.... so he stupidly doesnt realize theres shit tons of non english speaking players, and have been for years and years

Not to mention the amount of americans who go overseas for sports when they arent good enough to play here.... they dont speak the local language either

[angelsnationtalk]

He then backtracked and said it's harder to market MLB with them cuz they aren't fluent in English....

My take on this: Having players like Ohtani, Tatis Jr, Guerrero Jr and other non-natives is actually what you need to promote MLB. Baseball will always be popular in the states. It's America's past-time. Americans will get wet over any player and we don't need them to speak. As a culture, Americans are so easily entertained it's amazing. 

You need foreign players to market the game to their native countries. 

Currently, because Ohtani is having a monster year, attendance of Japanese people at Angel Stadium are on a huge rise and the Japanese Media is Ohtani crazy. This is exactly what is needed to grow MLB. 

The ESPN guy to say that is out of sync with the sport. Ohtani leading the way turns the heads of Americans, but now you have people from Japan turning their TVs on in the middle of the day just to watch what Ohtani does next. 

[Second Base]

Once he clarified his statement, I understood what he was saying, and he's not wrong.

But during the segment, holy frick that came out bad. But watch the clarification video he provided. I don't think he meant to be xenophobic at all. 

It's Stephen A Smith. He says stupid stuff all the time, and he gets clicks. I think once you realize that, it's easier just to ignore him or at the very least, take what he says with a grain of salt. To get bent out of shape over this is just folks looking to be offended by something. 

[Second Base]

Just now, angelsnationtalk said:

He then backtracked and said it's harder to market MLB with them cuz they aren't fluent in English....

My take on this: Having players like Ohtani, Tatis Jr, Guerrero Jr and other non-natives is actually what you need to promote MLB. Baseball will always be popular in the states. It's America's past-time. Americans will get wet over any player and we don't need them to speak. As a culture, Americans are so easily entertained it's amazing. 

You need foreign players to market the game to their native countries. 

Currently, because Ohtani is having a monster year, attendance of Japanese people at Angel Stadium are on a huge rise and the Japanese Media is Ohtani crazy. This is exactly what is needed to grow MLB. 

The ESPN guy to say that is out of sync with the sport. Ohtani leading the way turns the heads of Americans, but now you have people from Japan turning their TVs on in the middle of the day just to watch what Ohtani does next. 

I agree completely. To ensure the future of the game, they need foreign born stars because the viewership in the US is generally people aged 40-70. Going abroad is good for the game, and again, Stephen A Smith is just doing what he does on a normal basis. No use in getting upset. 

[Thomas]

There are a considerable number of professional athletes that would be far more popular if the English speaking audience didn't know what they are saying.

[Second Base]

20 minutes ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Normally id say "thats stupid". But cancel culture should be equal.

In 2021, what hes saying is "too far"

2020 and beyond is freaking weird. Everything is too far. 

[eligrba]

Watching or listening to ESPN is not much different from listening or watching over-invested parents of club athletes.

[Taylor]

1 hour ago, Angelsjunky said:

I wouldn't be surprised if he loses his job over this, or at least has a stern talking to.

cAnCeL cUlTuRe