ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith has been suspended for a week because of his comments about domestic abuse.
Stephen A. Smith suggested women should make sure that they don’t do anything to provoke an attack.
His comments occurred during a discussion on ESPN2’s First Take on July 25 about the NFL’s two-game suspension of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following charges he assaulted his now-wife. The remarks attracted widespread attention, including a stinging rebuke online from a fellow ESPN personality.
Stephen A. Smith issued an on-air apology on July 28, saying it was the most egregious mistake of his career.
A day later, ESPN took action. The network’s chief executive, John Skipper, told ESPN’s staff in a memo it was done after a “thoughtful discussion” about appropriate actions with men and women in his company.
Stephen A. Smith has been suspended for a week because of his comments about domestic abuse (photo ESPN)
“I believe his apology was sincere and that he and we have learned from what we’ve collectively experienced,” John Skipper said.
Stephen A. Smith will not appear on First Take or ESPN radio until August 6, ESPN said
During the Rice discussion, Stephen A. Smith alluded to women in abuse cases when he said: “Let’s make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong action … we got to also make sure that you can do your part to do whatever you can do to make, to try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Shortly after his remarks, colleague Michelle Beadle responded on Twitter that: “I was just forced to watch this morning’s First Take. A) I’ll never feel clean again B) I’m not aware that I can provoke my own beating.”
Michelle Beadle, host of ESPN2’s SportsNation, continued with a series of tweets. She said that “Violence isn’t the victim’s issue. It’s the abuser’s. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting.”
During his apology, Stephen A. Smith said it wasn’t his intention to say that women could be responsible for their own abuse.
“It was not what I was trying to say,” he said.
“Yet the failure to clearly articulate something different lies squarely on my shoulder.”
He didn’t explain the point that he was trying to make.
ESPN frowns upon its personalities attacking each other on social media or other forums. But it did not announce any punishment for Michelle Beadle.
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Cathy’s Kids, a cancer charity set up by Lamar Odom, has failed to give considerable money raised to children in need, a new investigation has revealed.
According to ESPN, which conducted an investigation called Outside The Lines, Cathy’s Kids foundation has not given $2.2 million accumulated to any cancer-related causes since it was founded in 2004.
Questions were raised about the use of the money after investigators rifled through eight years of Lamar Odom’s tax records.
Cathy’s Kids, a cancer charity set up by Lamar Odom, has failed to give considerable money raised to children in need
Instead of funding cancer-related patients, the money has reportedly been mostly used to finance two elite youth basketball travel teams.
According to ESPN investigation, at least 60% of the $2.2 million has helped fund the AAU teams.
The sole employee on the books for the charity is Lamar Odom’s high school coach and best man at his wedding to Khloe Kardashian, Jerry DeGregorio.
Acting as secretary for the Cathy’s Kids – named in honor of Lamar Odom’s late mother who died of stomach cancer – from 2004 to 2011, Jerry deGregorio was reportedly paid a median annual salary of around $72,000, despite the charity operating at a loss since it was created.
Cathy’s Kids is currently $256,000 in debt largely due to a loan Lamar Odom made to the charity, according to his business manager and charity’s treasurer, Lester Knispel.
The new ESPN revelations now allegedly see Lamar Odom in danger of violating tax law as, as ESPN states, if a charity spends funds not consistent with its stated mission, including paying someone like Jerry DeGregorio a salary, it could be considered as fraud by the IRS or a state attorney general’s office.
If fraudulent activity is found, prosecutors could in turn file charges against Lamar Odom.
ESPN have apparently since sought a comment from LA Clippers star about his charity’s spending habits.
Lamar Odom reportedly simply responded with: “It’s my money.”
His wife Khloe Kardashian has been heavily involved with Cathy’s Kids by setting up a personal eBay account with her husband, in which they have been selling off personal effects, including items from her designer wardrobe, to raise funds.
Khloe Kardashian has even taken to her own personal blog to promote the charity and gush about her husband’s efforts.
The Outside The Lines report also investigated more than a hundred other charities attached to high profile athletes.
The investigation revealed that 115 of the big name charities were not handing out raised profits effectively or properly.
It also found that more than 74% were not operating under the Better Business Bureau and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy standards.
