High ESPN basketball analyst Stephen A. Smith was busted by a fan within the stands for taking part in solitaire throughout Recreation 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The blurry picture rapidly went viral on social media, even catching the attention of Smith, who admitted he was catching up on some solitaire throughout a timeout.
“Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought… I can multitask. Particularly throughout TIMEOUTS!” Smith posted on X. “Hope y’all are having fun with the NBA Finals. That is going 7 video games now, peeps!”
His submit earned a “group notice” — a characteristic on X meant to handle misinformation — that added context: “Stephen A. is mendacity” and “This picture was taken throughout gameplay, NOT throughout a timeout.”
Many members of the nationwide media have brazenly griped about this small-market NBA Finals. Touring to Indiana and Oklahoma Metropolis in the course of summer season isn’t excessive on anybody’s want record. However this has been an extremely entertaining Finals, so naturally the web trolls have been upset with Smith for taking part in solitaire as a substitute of watching the sport.
Which leaves me with this query: Haven’t all of us finished this?
Consideration spans are shorter now than they’ve ever been. Information reveals most sports activities followers watch reside video games with their telephones in hand for simple communication with pals or as a second-screen expertise. When the telephone’s in your hand, the urge to open it up and distract your mind for just a few moments is at all times there.
For Stephen A., the escape is solitaire. For my dad, it’s Panda Pop. For my little brother, it’s TikTok at full quantity — no matter what’s on TV.
If Smith had been utilizing the ESPN Guess app as a substitute of solitaire, this might’ve was a viral promoting marketing campaign. However the truth that he distracted himself with a solo card sport has everybody on-line up in arms.
What number of skilled basketball video games has Smith attended? 1000’s? You’d should guess he’s been to shut to 100 NBA Finals video games by now. I’m not going guilty him for not sitting on the sting of his seat your entire time. Certain, it’s his job to look at and analyze the sport. However nobody’s seeking to him for an in-depth X’s and O’s breakdown of each possession.
You’ll be able to take your eyes off the sport for a couple of minutes — timeout or not — and nonetheless have a reasonably good thought of what’s occurring.
