ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has been known to slam the Cincinnati Bengals and their ownership, but the College Football Playoff semifinalist University of Cincinnati Bearcats are the subject of Smith's latest opinion arousing the ire of many Cincinnati sports fans.
"My deepest congratulations to the University of Cincinnati. It was a beautiful, beautiful season. It really was. It was a very nice season. You should be very, very, very proud of yourself and what you did this year, Cincinnati. You're very good, you," Smith said on "First Take." "You did a good job. But it ends now."
From The Enquirer's Keith Jenkins via Twitter:
Smith isn't alone in not giving UC much of a chance against Alabama on Dec. 31. The Cotton Bowl's opening line per BetMGM - the Crimson Tide -14 against the Bearcats - was the biggest point spread of all 42 bowl games.
Earlier this year, long-time Cincinnati Reds play-by-play announcer Marty Brennaman replied via Twitter to an apology Smith made after suggesting that Major League Baseball can't market Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani because Ohtani uses an interpreter for most interviews conducted in English, showing support for Smith and adding that he wished his son's employers "had been as forgiving" as Smith's.
Smith explained on "First Take" in Aug. 2020 that he didn't believe former Reds play-by-play broadcaster Thom Brennaman should lose his job for using a homophobic slur on the air.
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