2008 Woodie Awards
Stephen A. Smith speaks out about controversy
Steven J. Gaither
Issue date: 11/7/05 Section: Sports
"Taking it to the house." "Diaper dandy." "Taking it deep." "Boo-yah." "Back-Back-back-back, gone!
Recognize any of these expressions? If you're an ESPN viewer, you should. ESPN personality Chris Berman, for example, coined the phrase, "Back-back-back-back, gone!"
But has ESPN jargon crept on to the pages of the mainstream press? Scott Reinardy and Earnest Perry apparently think so. Reinardy is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri, and Perry is an associate professor there. In a survey of 249 sports journalists, Reinardy has found that "ESPN sports-speak" has crossed over to news pages, and his thesis has caused a stir in the sports media world.
Both The New York Times and the Baltimore Sun have carried stories in the past two months that explore Reinardy's thesis. And, in the New York Times piece, WSSU's own Stephen A. Smith is cited, because he is both a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and host of ESPN's "Quite Frankly With Stephen A. Smith."
Smith, a WSSU graduate, was in the city for WSSU's homecoming festivities last month, and he shared his views on the issue.
"I don't think it's because of people like (ESPN's) Stuart Scott or myself," Smith said. "You have to realize what a Stuart Scott does; he is an anchor who is given highlights. He's not out there being a reporter like I am."
Smith added that he, as well as most journalists doesn't use jargon. "Not that there is anything wrong with it,' he said, "it's just that when you are reporting that is not the place for it."
Smith has written for the Philadelphia Inquirer since 1994, but it is his appearances on ESPN, particularly his analysis on "N.B.A. Nation," that has made him into a household name. Smith's "Quite Frankly," which debuted in August, airs weekdays at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 2.
Smith said the preparation for both hosting and writing is the same, although they are two completely different things. "Hosting your own show is communicating, and your personable skills have to come across."
Recognize any of these expressions? If you're an ESPN viewer, you should. ESPN personality Chris Berman, for example, coined the phrase, "Back-back-back-back, gone!"
But has ESPN jargon crept on to the pages of the mainstream press? Scott Reinardy and Earnest Perry apparently think so. Reinardy is a doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri, and Perry is an associate professor there. In a survey of 249 sports journalists, Reinardy has found that "ESPN sports-speak" has crossed over to news pages, and his thesis has caused a stir in the sports media world.
Both The New York Times and the Baltimore Sun have carried stories in the past two months that explore Reinardy's thesis. And, in the New York Times piece, WSSU's own Stephen A. Smith is cited, because he is both a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and host of ESPN's "Quite Frankly With Stephen A. Smith."
Smith, a WSSU graduate, was in the city for WSSU's homecoming festivities last month, and he shared his views on the issue.
"I don't think it's because of people like (ESPN's) Stuart Scott or myself," Smith said. "You have to realize what a Stuart Scott does; he is an anchor who is given highlights. He's not out there being a reporter like I am."
Smith added that he, as well as most journalists doesn't use jargon. "Not that there is anything wrong with it,' he said, "it's just that when you are reporting that is not the place for it."
Smith has written for the Philadelphia Inquirer since 1994, but it is his appearances on ESPN, particularly his analysis on "N.B.A. Nation," that has made him into a household name. Smith's "Quite Frankly," which debuted in August, airs weekdays at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 2.
Smith said the preparation for both hosting and writing is the same, although they are two completely different things. "Hosting your own show is communicating, and your personable skills have to come across."