“Always Black vs. White with this dude” – NBA Twitter BLAST S Stephen A. Smith for race baiting while defending Angel Reese’s taunt towards Caitlin Clark
Controversy Erupts Over Angel Reese's Taunt: Stephen A. Smith Accused of Race Baiting
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LSU Tigers player Angel Reese has found herself at the center of controversy after using a gesture made famous by Iowa Hawkeyes star player Caitlin Clark to celebrate her team’s victory in the NCAA women’s championship game.
Clark had scored an impressive 30 points in the game, but her efforts were not enough to secure a win for her team, the Lady Hawkeyes. In the end, the Lady Tigers emerged victorious with a final score of 102-85.
Reese’s actions after the game, however, drew criticism from many who felt her taunt was “classless” and disrespectful. However, there were also those who defended Reese’s actions. One such person was Stephen A. Smith.
“We all know that there’s a white/Black issue here,” Smith said. “Because the fact of the matter is when Caitlin did it, people were celebrating it and they were talking about nothing but her greatness.
Smith added, “But then the second the sister stepped up and threw it back in her face, now you got half the basketball world saying you know what, that’s not the classiest thing to do.”
Stephen also mentioned that Clark had been abusive towards other players throughout the tournament, but nobody had called her out on it. Smith’s comments have sparked a debate among NBA fans on Twitter, with some accusing him of race-baiting while defending Reese’s taunt toward Clark.
NBA Fans Accuse Stephen A. Smith of Race Baiting
Many accused Smith of race-baiting and trying to turn the incident into a black vs. white issue. “Always Black vs. White with this dude,” one fan tweeted in response to Smith’s comments. Others pointed out that Angel’ss race was not relevant to the issue at hand and that Smith was simply trying to stir up controversy.
“Stephen A. Smith playing the race card on this one is just ridiculous,” another fan wrote. “Angel Reese was excessive unsportsmanlike conduct and no where near the same thing as Caitlin Clark. Reese’s actions are indefensible.”
Regardless of where people stand on the debate, it is clear that Reese’s taunt has sparked a conversation about sportsmanship and racial double standards in sports. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to any changes in how players are perceived and treated based on their race.
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Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)