Tiki Barber stated he isn’t “bent out of practice” over his latest confrontation with Stephen A. Smith over allegations of racism in opposition to the Giants, however he did make an emphatic last assertion.
On Tuesday’s episode of his WFAN present “Tiki and Tierney,” Barber responded to Smith’s Monday warning — that Barber ought to “watch [himself] and know who [he’s] speaking about” — with an apology, whereas additionally condemning the risk Smith made towards him.
“It’s not value my emotional power to get bent out of practice about one thing that I’ve no management over. I’ve a lot respect for Stephen A. Smith. He’s the distinguished Black journalist in sports activities proper now, so if he felt affronted by a dialog that I used to be having — that wasn’t truly about him. It was about how we now have used and hijacked racism to make excuses for failing range initiatives — then I apologize to Stephen A. Smith.
“However that being stated, he’s the distinguished Black journalist on a serious community, and threatening one other Black man isn’t what this nation must be about. Interval.”
Barber and Smith’s spat started final week when Barber disagreed with Smith about accusations of racism in opposition to the Giants.
Final Tuesday, former Dolphins coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit in Manhattan in opposition to the NFL alleging racism within the hiring course of — claiming the Giants gave him a “sham” interview, already figuring out that they had chosen Brian Daboll for the job.
After the information went public, Smith slammed the Giants on “First Take,” and stated “in terms of Black coaches… there’s no person extra incriminating than the New York Giants.”
Barber later disagreed with Smith on his podcast, vehemently denying that Giants house owners John Mara and Steve Tisch are racist. He added that Smith “doesn’t know anyone within the Giants group” to make a declare about racism in opposition to the crew.
That’s when Smith ended Monday’s “First Take” with a fiery response to Barber.
“Tiki, you don’t know who the hell I do know. I’ve been a journalist for nearly 30 years, I do know just a few individuals inside the Giants group. I do know a variety of stuff about you, my brother, that I might by no means say as a result of I’ve the decency to not say these issues,” Smith stated. “Relax. Watch your self and know who you’re speaking about.”
