William F. Buckley famously described a conservative as someone who “stands athwart history yelling ‘stop,’ at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.”

Well, forget limiting this to conservatives. We all need to start yelling “stop” regarding the conversation around sports commentator Stephen A. Smith potentially running for president. We should all be inclined to do so, and we should have zero patience for anyone reluctant to do this.

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Smith often uses the term “blasphemous” to express his shock and dismay during many sports-related discussions. We should all be saying the same regarding his flirtation with running for president. Stop this madness. 

Smith, the longtime sports journalist, talk show host, and current ESPN commentator, has publicly flirted with the idea of running for president since Donald Trump won reelection on Nov. 5, 2024. I’m pretty sure this was and is nothing more than a publicity stunt meant to increase his viewership, audience, and the chatter around him. All of it, I believe, is intended to appease his massive ego and narcissism.

Yet, Smith has been more vocal and, supposedly, more serious about the idea recently.

First, there was this post on X, in which he said he was “sick” of the country’s political landscape and that he was “leaving all doors open” on a presidential campaign.” Then, during an interview Sunday on ABC News’s This Week, Smith once again broached the idea of running for commander in chief, claiming that he “had no choice.”

“I have no choice because I’ve had elected officials, and I’m not going to give their names, elected officials coming up to me,” Smith said. “I’ve had folks who are pundits come up to me. I’ve had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature. I’m not a politician. I’ve never had a desire to be a politician.”

Yes, he does have a choice. His appearance on This Week is a case in point. He would have never appeared on that program if he didn’t keep promoting this idea of a presidential campaign. As a result, Smith was introduced to an audience who would otherwise, most likely, never have heard of him. 

Smith has no political experience. He’s never run or campaigned for office. He doesn’t have any academic background in politics. He’s never been the head of a company or organization. He’s never created jobs or any businesses. All he’s done is, quite literally, write and yell about sports. He has a three-decade history of being regularly incorrect in his sports assessments. At his core, there’s little difference between the court jester and Stephen A. Smith. 

He’s a blowhard who invokes reactions from people with exaggerated theatrics while providing commentary. This doesn’t make him presidential material.

Furthermore, listening to him on Sunday on ABC News, he tried to portray himself as a reluctant patriot, doting on the immense responsibility of political power, as if he was trying to save the country. Smith would have people believe he embodies the spirit of Cincinnatus, the legendary Roman statesman who, at the peak of his power and influence, relinquished control to return to life as a farmer, only to be summoned back as ruler by the people in a time of great crisis.

Blasphemous! 

STEPHEN A. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON?

In reality, Smith craves attention. It has allowed him to be booked on ABC and Fox News networks, expanding his brand. And, foolishly, network executives keep indulging Smith, feeding the monster that is his ego and desire for exposure to as many people as possible. And, somehow, he’s accomplished this, not by being some great diplomat or statesman or demonstrating superior intellect or political acumen. Instead, it’s from court jester-type antics, such as hyperbolic, dramatic, and over-the-top shouting while providing (often incorrect) sports analyses, commentaries, and predictions.

We used to be a serious country. However, now we genuflect at the altar of celebrities, mistaking performative hacks for societal leaders. It’s absurd for anyone to consider Smith a realistic presidential candidate option. And to be even having this conversation is a scathing indictment of our country’s significant cultural regression.