Mistaken Identity, Stephen A. Goes Off, Jim Ross Dubs Highlight the Will Smith–Chris Rock Fallout: TRAINA THOUGHTS

Mistaken Identity, Stephen A. Goes Off, Jim Ross Dubs: The Will Smith-Chris Rock Fallout

1. You know what happened at Sunday night’s Oscars, so I’m not going to rehash it. I’ll just offer a few quick thoughts off the top here.

A) I'm a HUGE Chris Rock fan and he’s a top-five funniest person of all time in my opinion. Also, Will Smith has always been … odd.

B) I’d bet money less than 50% of the people who saw what happened understood the G.I. Jane reference.

C) I’ll make a prediction right now: Will Smith and Chris Rock will present an award together at next year’s Oscars.

D) It’s truly fascinating how fast a story becomes played out in this day and age. While this moment was made for Twitter, by 8 a.m. today, I didn’t want to see one more tweet or read one more word about Will Smith vs. Chris Rock. But because I’m here for you guys during these times, I wrote about it, anyway. 

E) Please do not email or tweet me telling me this was a work. It was 100 percent a shoot, and I’m not debating it.

O.K., now for some of the fun and amazing fallout from the big scandal.

Today’s New York Post cover was an A+.

pic.twitter.com/IFkXI2MIbo

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) March 28, 2022

Poor Will Smith. Not the overly aggressive actor, but a different Will Smith who has been bombarded with tweets since the slap happened.

Real talk, I’m not the person you’re upset/happy with. I make podcasts and video games for a living.

At the risk of making people pissed off at me instead of that other guy, the world would be a better place if we stopped answering words with violence.

— Will Smith (@willsmith) March 28, 2022

Gonna keep tweeting through it.

— Will Smith (@willsmith) March 28, 2022

It didn’t help nonactor Will Smith that he kept getting tagged by Stephen A. Smith, who had strong feelings about the slap.

Please tell me I didn’t see what I just saw. Somebody please tell me that @willsmith was joking and it was part of the show when he just smacked @chrisrock on National Television. I’m begging y’all….please don’t tell me @willsmith would do something like that???

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

If @willsmith seriously did that — and he wins the OSCAR — he just stained the greatest moment of his career. You cannot do that S$&@!!Especially as a BLACK MAN, in that position, to ANOTHER BLACK MAN(@chrisrock) on THAT STAGE. If this was not a joke, Will won’t live this down!!!

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

I just saw the RAW footage. @willsmith should be ashamed of his damn self. It was a G.I. Jane joke. Total B.S. If it were @TheRock or someone like that instead of @chrisrock would he have done that shit!

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

Total BS by @willsmith. If his night is ruined because of this he deserves it. The man has Denzel & Bradley Cooper trying to calm him down. For what? A joke about his wife in G.I. Joe? Come on! The shit was embarrassing! A very very bad look! Love Will. But not after this B.S.

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

As the Internet always does when there’s a big event, we were treated to a couple of Jim Ross dubs.

Will Smith hitting Chris Rock remixed with WWE's Jim Ross 😂 pic.twitter.com/CTUHBGnmbb

— Benstonium (@Benstonium) March 28, 2022

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock with Jim Ross commentary. 😭😭😭 @willsmith @chrisrock @JRsBBQ @JerryLawler @MikeTyson #Oscars pic.twitter.com/lIWGMGYH8V

— Chad (@ChadBlue83) March 28, 2022

Speaking of wrestling, if you’re old like me, you will thoroughly enjoy this reference by Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Me and Andy Kaufman did that sh*t 35 years ago!! pic.twitter.com/nR6TQBNUnf

— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) March 28, 2022

A lot of sports figures weighed in on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, but I thought Julian Edelman was especially on point.

pic.twitter.com/3zPW7vD3j4

— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) March 28, 2022

We end with this because it’s so good.

Larry David backstage at the Oscars waiting for Chris Rock to deliver the Jada Smith joke he wrote.

Will Smith slaps Rock in the face.

Cut back to Larry. His mouth is agape in shock. Curb outro music up. Credits roll.

— Aaron Robnett (@imaaron) March 28, 2022

2. If you're someone who enjoys ESPN's NFL pregame show on Sundays, you should know that the host, Sam Ponder, has re-signed with the network, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

NEWSLETTER+: ESPN re-signs Sam Ponder for NFL Countdown in 7 figure deal, The Post has learned.https://t.co/FeiOlnNrIX

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 28, 2022

3. If you’re a heavy Twitter user, you know that Nick Castellanos is “a thing.” Specifically, “a drive into deep left field by Castellanos” became “a thing” when he hit a home run while Reds announcer was giving an on-air apology for using a gay slur on a hot mike.

Cut to Castellanos’s at bat in the fourth inning Sunday and this happened.

Nick Castellanos earned his first hit in a Phillies uniform while the Blue Jays' broadcast was discussing pitching coach Pete Walker's DUI. You can't make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/RsKV2cyz8T

— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) March 27, 2022

4. Peter Schrager showed off some impressive Dr. Melfi skills on today’s Good Morning Football.

Packers fans, we know you might be worried.

Fear not, @PSchrags is here to make it all better. pic.twitter.com/TDiCHdnJIX

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 28, 2022

5. If you missed it Saturday, Nets center Andre Drummond pulled off a move that I hope becomes a staple in the NBA. He flashed a peace sign at the Pistons’ defenders as he drove to the hoop for a dunk.

just witnessed *Andre Drummond* throw up a peace sign like he’s Tyreek Hill pic.twitter.com/0S1IGolLWk

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 27, 2022

6. The latest SI Media Podcast features an interview with Troy Aikman, who revealed he still doesn’t know why Fox let him leave after 21 years with the company. He also shared his thoughts on the move from Fox to ESPN and joining Monday Night Football. He talks about why he wanted Joe Buck to join him at ESPN, the big bump in broadcaster salaries, whether he feels pressure joining MNF, the differences in Fox’s NFL coverage compared to ESPN’s and much more.

Aikman also talks about Tom Brady’s returning to the NFL, Davante Adams’s leaving the Packers and more.

Following Aikman’s interview, Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY in New York joins Jimmy for the weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week’s topics include the NCAA tournament, issues with streaming sports and the loss of a New York legend.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Stitcher.

You can also watch the SI Media Podcast on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Today is a day to enjoy some Chris Rock.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Stitcher. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.