Stephen Anthony Smith is an American sports television personality, sports radio broadcaster, and sports journalist. He was born on October 14, 1967 in the United States. On the show ESPN's First Take, where he is a commentator, he often appears with Molly Qerim.
In addition to that, you can catch him frequently commentating on the NBA on SportsCenter. In addition, Smith provides analysis of NBA games for ESPN's NBA Countdown and other NBA programming on ESPN. Additionally, he is the host of The Stephen A. Smith Show, which can be heard on ESPN Radio.
A featured contributor for ESPNNY.com, ESPN.com, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, Smith also writes for ESPN.com. Many people consider him to be ESPN's representative face.
Early Life
Stephen A. Smith began his life in the Bronx, New York, with a father who worked in the construction industry and owned a hardware shop. Prior to running the hardware store, Stephen's father was a well-known basketball and baseball player. He was the second youngest of six children and was born in 1967.
During his childhood, he grew up with his five older siblings. Smith's early years were spent developing a passion for the game of basketball, which ultimately led to him being awarded a scholarship to play basketball at Winston-Salem State University.
Before enrolling at WSSU, he spent a year getting a fashion education at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
During his time at the university, he participated in basketball games coached by the legendary Clarence Gaines. Stephen A. Smith was likely able to gain a tremendous amount of basketball-related insight and strategic expertise as a result of his participation in this event.
Smith did not shy away from publicly criticizing his coach despite the fact that the latter was well-known and well-liked. When Smith was getting close to the end of his time at the institution, he suggested in an article he had written for the school's newspaper that Gaines ought to resign due to the state of his deteriorating health. In 1991, Stephen A. Smith received his degree from the institution.
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Early Journalism Career
After graduating from college, Stephen A. Smith's first big employment in the news industry was with the Winston-Salem Journal, where he was employed in the sports department as a clerk.
This role would end up being a stepping stone on the path to eventual success. Soon enough, he was getting work at journals such as the Greensborough News and Record and the New York Daily News that were more significant in nature.
Nevertheless, his employment at The Philadelphia Inquirer would prove to be the most significant step in his career advancement.
Stephen A. Smith's Net Worth
Stephen A. Smith is a prominent personality in the American sports media who has an estimated net worth of $16 million.
The majority of Stephen A. Smith's notoriety stems from his participation in a variety of ESPN shows. In addition to that, he is a writer, and his work can be found on the websites of ESPN and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Talk radio is another arena in which Stephen A. Smith has achieved a great deal of success. In addition to that, Smith has appeared in a number of movies, typically in the form of a cameo part in which he portrays the character himself.
Salary
Stephen A. Smith's annual compensation was $5 million up until April of 2019, and has been that amount for a number of years. Midway through the month of April 2019, he signed a new contract with ESPN that gives him an annual salary of $8 million, making him the most highly compensated ESPN personality.
This agreement made him the highest-paid sportscaster in the world for a little less than a year until he was surpassed by Tony Romo's gigantic $17 million per year CBS deal, which was signed in March of 2020. Romo's deal was announced in March of 2020.
Acting Career
Stephen A. Smith has portrayed a variety of characters over the course of his acting career, beginning with his turn on General Hospital.
Smith has been a longstanding fan of the show, and he has made many appearances on the program in the form of cameos. Smith made an appearance in the 2007 film I Think I Love My Wife, which was directed by Chris Rock.
The well-known TV personality has also been seen in a number of advertisements for Oberto's beef jerky products.
Radio Career
Stephen A. Smith has dedicated a significant portion of his career to being actively involved in Talk Radio.
His radio career began with WEPN radio in New York City in 2005. The latter portion of the episode was eventually broadcast in its entirety on ESPN Radio. Smith began working for Fox Sports Radio in 2009, where he eventually became the anchor of their morning program.
The year 2013 marked Smith's departure from ESPN radio and his subsequent joining of Chris Russo's Mad Dog Sports Channel, which was broadcast on Sirius/XM. 2017 marked Smith's return to his former home at ESPN, but the show he had hosted there is now broadcast on Sirius XM.
Between the years 2015 and 2019, he made one million dollars annually from his Sirius/XM radio show.
Controversy
It's no secret that Stephen A. Smith's writing is noted for its bluntness. Numerous issues have arisen as a result of Stephen's “straight-up” method of operation. His statements on domestic abuse in relation to an NFL player and his wife are maybe his most well-known talking point.
As a result, the commentator was temporarily suspended. Stephen A. Smith also sparked controversy by claiming that an NFL coach's actions were influenced by racial bias.
After seeing a highlight clip of women's soccer at the FIFA World Cup, the pundit once again got himself in hot water when he made disparaging remarks.
Personal Life
In spite of his age, Stephen A. Smith has never been married. He has two children, one a year older than the other, about whom little is known.
Smith hasn't revealed anything about his romantic relationships since he keeps a very low profile when it comes to his private life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stephen a. Smith Married?
GQ interviewed Smith on December 11, 2019, and he revealed that he had two children, ages 10 and 11, at the time. He used to be dating a girl. The reason he didn't get married was that “It didn't work out.”
