Stephen A. Smith rants on ties in hockey, which don't exist anymore
Monday's daytime SportsCenter thankfully didn't spend the entire morning on the Harlem Shake, but they did deliver inanity in spades once again. This time it was resident debating expert Stephen A. Smith comparing the impressive streaks of the Miami Heat and the Chicago Blackhawks.
The streaks are fundamentally different. Miami has won 14 straight games. Chicago has recorded a point in 22 straight to begin the season (19 wins, 3 OT losses). But because this is "Embrace Debate", one has to be better than the other and ESPN had to trot out one of their analysts to take a side.
Of course, who better than one of Bristol's resident expert debaters, Stephen A. Smith to rant on this topic... because he's such a respected authority on the sport of hockey, you know. Just watch and cringe in pain and agony as Screamin' A. totally dismisses the Blackhawks point streak because of "ties."
Then note that the NHL hasn't had a tie since April 4th, 2004.
For the record, it was 3 shootout losses for the Blackhawks, not 3 ties.
This is what happens when you employ only one competent hockey personality and prefer bluster to knowledge. You end up with an ESPN analyst talking about things that haven't existed for almost nine years. Hockey is about points, yes. So is soccer. Hockey is a different sport than basketball and orders its standings differently, rewarding teams with points for not losing in regulation. This is apparently a difficult concept to grasp.
This is what also happens when you try to compare and debate the merits of two winning streaks when one isn't even a winning streak at all. It's a point streak. There's a difference.
I just wonder if Stephen A. Smith's lack of understanding about the rules of the sport and flippantly saying "it's hockey we're talking about here" still counts as proof of ESPN talking about the NHL?
If ESPN is really the worldwide leader in sports as they proclaim to be, maybe they can find someone to put on television next time to talk hockey who is aware of the existence of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They've only been around for 13 years.
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Listen, let's face it people. ESPN has never really been a "hockey friendly" environment. At least not in MY eyes it hasn't. Hockey has ALWAYS taken a back seat to every other professional sport out there and I never understand why. It sells out almost every pond it's played on, and there are so many loyal fans that watch it on Center Ice or other cable networks because they either can't afford tickets or live out of the viewing area of their teams, so I just don't understand it. Not to mention, that the NHL players are hardly EVER involved in something scandalous, as opposed to the NFL and NBA where it seems to be a regular occurance. So does it surprise me that Mr Stephen Smith has no clue or understanding about the game of hockey? Or that he didn't even REALIZE that the NHL has a team in Columbus? (Even though it's his JOB to know these things?) Nope, not a bit...cuz he's one of those, "Basketball is my life." kinda guys. Whatever...This clip just proved his utter and complete ignorance. (And ESPN's also!)
@AndrewBucholtz @hawknut to be honest, I don't really know the RULES of Sportscenter, but I'm going to talk about it anyway
“@awfulannouncing If you missed it, Stephen A. Smith tried to talk hockey. http://t.co/cQa1Q2wIpX” yet another's reason to hate ESPN
@ChiCityBrian i didn't watch the video cuz i hate SAS. but he is right that's not a winning streak. They have lost 3 times.
@jakemlarson the point is it's not about a winning streak - it's a point streak. Hockey standings go by points, not wins. Argument is dumb.
@ChiCityBrian sure it's accurate. But if a team has a streak of being undefeated on Thursday's it doesn't take away they lost on other days
@jakemlarson are you fine with people saying it's a streak of zero losses in regulation? it's accurate...
@jakemlarson my point is this: why haven't you tweeted the Mila Kunis video? have you not seen it yet?
@HLobermeier12 Next time try this : "Stephen A Smith tried to talk. It didn't work. " It doesn't matter the topic. #likestohearhisownvoice
@newtrosbutros ugh... RT @awfulannouncing If you missed it, Stephen A. Smith tried to talk hockey. It didn't work. http://t.co/RV8nFsUQhN
@friarfanatic10 That guy! :S Wow. Remember when there was a tie in football last season? Btw, your Hawks? DEADLY!
@awfulannouncing You could have stopped that sentence after "Stephen A. Smith tried to talk. It didn't work."
@Batchers that's why @espn is the last place I think about going to when it comes to the NHL.
@AAAudette @espn I agree ... for some reason it frustrates me more than it should. I just wish I got the NHL network.
@awfulannouncing @DavidHaugh knows NHL doesn't have ties. He explains this "debate" so even @stephenasmith gets it http://t.co/ND9ipbRPs8
@awfulannouncing Stephen A. Smith is the worst. This just magnifies it. ESPN needs to get some real hockey analysts, now.....
“@awfulannouncing: If you missed it, Stephen A. Smith tried to talk hockey. It didn't work. http://t.co/HTfyTHpZ5x” typical ESPN...
“@awfulannouncing: If you missed it, Stephen A. Smith tried to talk hockey. It didn't work. http://t.co/WJV2WvyMaQ” @stephenasmith Hahaha!
“@awfulannouncing RT If you missed it, Stephen A. Smith tried to talk hockey. It didn't work. http://t.co/KPVxyORlop” -- God he is TERRIBLE
@awfulannouncing He shouldn't talk football either. Didn't he once suggest fg kicks should be tried on 3rd down just in case they miss?
@awfulannouncing Could simply be bitter re how the Hawks sliced and diced the Flyers the last time it mattered . . .
@awfulannouncing He doesn't now anything about any of the other sports he tries to talk about either
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"it's hockey we're talking about here"
Exactly the type of empty, bombastic, pretentious attempt at condescension one would expect from a basketball-first idiot like Stephen A. Basketball is the sport for morons with no attention spans.
No wonder he and ESPN love it so much.
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Slap his ass next to Skip Bayless on that Mt. Rushmore of yours, sucking the NBA's dick like that. You are a professional working for a supposedly top level sports company and you should know all 122 franchises in the 4 major sports. "I respect the sport of hockey" BULLSHIT.No wonder he's on First Take with SAS
@Fang_Faction @awfulannouncing @stephenasmith Yugoslavia, cassette tapes, phone booths, Woolworths #ThingsStephenASmithThinksStillExist
@timring3TV And by "they," I mean the contrived controversy practicioners across all platforms.
@TFOlympicAffair ... but in the meantime, exposing them for the charlatans that they are isn't a bad plan B.
@timring3TV But even blasts give them attention they covet and want. We have to get to point where we just ignore them or they win.
@TFOlympicAffair Pulling hair to get attention is bad enough but SAS embarrassed the network - even for them. Ignoring is the best cure..
@timring3TV @awfulannouncing But we have to get to point where we ignore stupidity. Even pan will be loved by ESPN. He got attention.
@awfulannouncing At least he takes criticism over his fact-free ranting well. http://t.co/qVfyQQM1D4
Isn't he overdue for some laryngitis? RT@awfulannouncing: Stephen A. Smith, hockey savant. Prepare to be amazed... http://t.co/N953SQZD0E
@awfulannouncing I don't see what the big deal is it's just hockey. I'm sure the 20000 ppl that watch hockey were very upset. Lmao #whocares
