Stephen A. Smith defends LeBron James for calling out media over lack of questions regarding controversial Jerry Jones desegregation photo
LeBron James recently called out the media over their lack of accountability towards Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. After photos resurfaced of him at a desegregation event while he was in high school, the media largely did not ask him about it.
Instead, they've spent time asking about everything else. James remarked on the situation. Including the fact that everyone was asked about Kyrie Irving amidst the anti-Semitism controversy, but that no one seemed to care as much about the desegregation photo.
Stephen A. Smith came to James' aid after his comments about the Cowboys owner. Here's what Smith said:
"Trump says something, they ask LeBron about it…LeBron James has been subjected to question after question after question, but suddenly when it came to Jerry Jones, you didn’t ask? Because I assure you, if I was in that press room, I would have asked LeBron about it.”
He was surprised that the media didn't ask about the issue, given how quick they've been to ask James about almost every other social issue that comes up.
Smith stopped short of decrying the Cowboys owner, though. He admitted that there are plenty of reasons to be upset with him, but a photo from when he was 14 years old might not be the best one.
What did LeBron James say about Cowboys owner Jerry Jones?
After the photo resurfaced, many outlets and the owner himself, confirmed that it was the Cowboys owner in the picture. James asked the media at a press conference following a big win:
“I got one question for you guys before you guys leave. I was thinking when I was on my way over here, I was wondering why I haven’t gotten a question from you guys about the Jerry Jones photo. But when the Kyrie [Irving] thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us questions about that.”
James has become a leader in the world of sports for a couple of reasons. First, he's arguably the best athlete on the planet. Second, he's never shied away from political issues and speaking up for what he believes in.
It's for that second reason that the media often ask him about things that don't pertain to him. While Jones' picture doesn't pertain to him either, it's the kind of thing he often faces questions about.