ESPN has been laying off several of its top reporters this weeks, and the massive losses have led to a lot of sympathy from fans and other journalists alike.
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Not everyone was a target of the sympathy, though, as several people took to criticize ESPN and top personality Stephen A. Smith over Smith's growing influence on television amid the company's layoff over 100 employees. One of those people was former ESPN and Sports Illustrated writer Jeff Pearlman, who felt that ESPN had missed the boat by firing several good employees in favor of Stephen A. Smith's type of journalism.
From Pearlman's Twitter:
This isn't just ending the internship program, or cutting back on free coffee. This is the dismissal of some of the biggest and most reputable names in journalism. Ed Werder. Paul Kuharsky. Jean-Jacques Taylor. Dana O'Neil. Mike Goodman. Mark Saxon. Brett McMurphy. Stephen A. Smith.
Oh, wait.
Stephen A. Smith was not fired. His $3.5 million-per-year salary is safe. And do you know why? Because he's really good at yelling. And screaming. And shouting. And barking. And stewing. And making 20-second arguments over things he almost certainly doesn't really care about.
Related: Report: One of ESPN's longest-tenured college football analysts has been laid off
Pearlman went on to defend Smith's credentials as an experienced journalist, but he expressed ire over ESPN's decision to keep Smith's "embrace debate" First Take program over traditional reporting.
Smith wasn't happy with the criticism, even calling out Pearlman specifically on his radio show. [H/t Awful Announcing]
I'm going to ask Mr. Jeff Pearlman and all the Jeff Pearlmans of the world a simple question: Why are you focusing on me? There are people in our business who actually get paid more, who do less and produce less. Why are you not talking about them?
...
Like when they call me 'Screamin' A?' I'm the only dude on the air who's loud? I know plenty of white dudes who are screaming and going off. They're called passionate. I'm called loud.
Smith continued to say that while the layoffs are unfortunate — as they feature several friends and reporters that he respects — it's not his fault that ESPN made the decisions that they did. And to be fair, Smith does have a bit of a point; if ESPN felt that Smith wasn't bringing in his worth, wouldn't he be among the first cuts with a salary that large?
"My credentials speak for themselves," Smith said. "I'm so sick and tired of people coming at me."
