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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
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Stephen A. Smith Is Still Not Happy With ESPN Suspension
Stephen A. Smith Is Still Not Happy With ESPN Suspension originally appeared on The Spun. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is pretty much untouchable at this stage in his career. That wasn't always the case though. In 2014, Smith made a questionable remark about Ray Rice getting suspended for domestic violence. He told a national audience that he has implored the female members of his family to avoid provoking wrong actions. "I don't know how many times I got to reiterate that. But as a man who was raised by women, see, I know what I'm going to do if somebody touches a female member of my family. I know what I'm going to do, I know what my boys are going to do. I know what, I'm going to have to remind myself that I work for the Worldwide Leader, I'm going to have to get law enforcement officials involved because of what I'm going to be tempted to do," Smith said in July 2014. "But what I've tried to implore the female members of my family, some of who you all met and talked to and what have you, is that again, and this is what, I've done this all my life, let's make sure we don't do anything to provoke wrong actions. Because if I come, or somebody else come, whether it's law enforcement officials, your brother or the fellas that you know, if we come after somebody has put their hands on you, it doesn't negate the fact that they already put their hands on you. So, let's try to make sure that we can do our part in making sure that that doesn't happen." ESPN ultimately suspended Smith for a week because of his remarks about Rice and domestic violence. To this day, he disagrees with the network's decision. During an interview with Rolling Stone, the face of "First Take" said he didn't deserve a suspension for his comments. "Everybody and their mother advises me, 'Don't revisit it. It's a no-win situation.' To me, that's cowardice," Smith said, via Awful Announcing. "I know what I said. And what I did was utter the word 'provoke.' A former colleague at ESPN took it, ran with it, and it went ballistic on Twitter. The leadership at ESPN reacted to that. When the heat elevated, [they] said, 'We have to suspend you.' And that's a blemish on my career I do not believe I deserve. I've been consistent in that position. I'm a father of two daughters. I know what I've never condoned or excused. Unfortunately, we live in an immature society where people are not deducing right from wrong and contextualizing things properly." Even though his rant may have been a bit bizarre, Smith wasn't trying to excuse domestic violence. That being said, ESPN did what it felt was A. Smith Is Still Not Happy With ESPN Suspension first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears Rookie RB Kyle Monangai Pushes Back on 7th-Round Label After Draft Slide
Bears Rookie RB Kyle Monangai Pushes Back on 7th-Round Label After Draft Slide originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With offseason camps officially in the books, the Bears are starting to get a clearer picture of which rookies could push for real roles this fall. One of those names has already created buzz, not just with his play—but with his story. After quietly climbing the depth chart, a rookie running back recently opened up about his surprise slide on draft day, and why he's not letting that define him. Advertisement Kyle Monangai, a rugged running back out of Rutgers, is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from Chicago's offseason program. He posted back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons in the Big Ten, totaled 707 career touches—669 rushing attempts and 38 receptions—without a single fumble, and became the first Rutgers running back to earn All-America honors since Ray Rice in 2007. Despite those accolades, he slid to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Kyle MonangaiGetty Images Recently, Monangai joined The Big Pro Football Show: Bears on CHSN to discuss his journey and his first impressions of being with the team. 'It's been surreal, just working, doing what I love to do. I'm taking everything in and getting closer with the guys.' Advertisement When asked by David Haugh about constantly being labeled as '7th-round pick Kyle Monangai,' the rookie didn't shy away: 'I embrace it. People always want to put a label on me at every level of football. It's nothing that I'm not used to. I'll wear it with pride, and we'll see at the end what I'm known for.' Clay Harbor chimed in with a reminder of Monangai's credentials—two straight 1,200-yard seasons in the Big Ten without ever fumbling. He then asked if Monangai was shocked to last until Round 7. 'I would be lying if I said that's where I was going to go. I definitely expected higher of myself. That's where the chips landed, and I couldn't be more excited in the situation I'm in. It's not necessarily what number you go, it's where you go.' Known for his hard-nosed, downhill style in college, Monangai's draft stock took a hit due to below-average testing numbers in speed and explosiveness. But early returns in Chicago tell a different story. He's drawn praise from teammates and coaches alike, and head coach Ben Johnson even named him as one of four standouts from the Bears' offseason camp. Advertisement Confident, focused, and already turning heads, Monangai enters training camp with a real chance to carve out a role in a crowded backfield. And if his past is any indication, being overlooked won't stop him. Related: Former Bears Coach Breaks Silence on Caleb Williams' Rookie-Year Frustration Related: Bears 10-Year Veteran Bids Emotional Farewell to Chicago This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
