Former ESPN colleagues Stephen A. Smith and Sage Steele recently came together on Steele’s podcast to dive into various topics, including the contentious issue of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.
The conversation started off a bit heated, as Steele questioned Smith’s delayed response on the issue, remarking it had taken him “three years” to speak out. However, Smith clarified during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” that he had been discussing UPenn’s Leah Thomas from the very beginning.
Eventually, they found common ground, with Steele probing Smith on why those in influential positions remain quiet regarding this issue.
Steele expressed frustration, questioning why many athletes, including those in the NFL and NBA—who are financially secure—aren’t taking more risks. She pointed out that many of them have daughters who are athletes, asking if they’d really allow a young man to compete against their daughters, noting the potential for injuries.
She emphasized the silence of financially established men in sports, remarking how it contrasts with ordinary people who might risk their jobs for voicing their opinions. It’s baffling, really. Why are they quiet?
Smith responded with a thoughtful comment, highlighting that some individuals only care about societal issues when they are personally impacted. He noted, “Some of us have good conscience and think, ‘I can’t just sit there and say nothing.'” He scornfully referred to politics as a “cesspool,” suggesting that this situation is just the latest example of that.
Steele seemed taken aback by Smith’s perspective, especially considering statistics indicating that nearly 80% of the public believes transgender athletes should not compete against biological women.
Steele mentioned that had women sportscasters united and spoken up, they could have shifted things positively, but, in her view, not enough did. In retort, Smith remarked that it wasn’t just men who failed to step up; many women also held back. “So, Sage, what that means is that very few people have the courage to take on issues for the betterment of others as a whole,” he stated.
Smith asserted that “biological males should not be competing against biological females in sports,” a viewpoint he reiterated on “Real Time with Bill Maher” last week.
Finally, he emphasized the necessity of protecting young women from competing against biological men, firmly stating there’s simply no justification for that.
