SI

Stephen A. Smith Has Become the Dr. Ruth of the 21st Century

Also in Traina Thoughts: brand-new ‘SI Media’ podcast; Jason and Travis Kelce have the No. 1 song on iTunes; MLB proposes pitch clock change; and more.

Jimmy Traina

1. Those of you much younger than me might not get the Dr. Ruth reference in the headline. You might be of an age where Loveline with Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla was your introduction to a sex advice show.

Whether you were familiar with Dr. Ruth or Loveline, though, doesn’t really matter. What matters that in 2023, there is a new sex advice show, and it happens to be hosted by one of the most powerful people at ESPN, which makes this whole thing hilarious.

Monday through Friday, Stephen A. Smith can be found on ESPN in the morning interviewing the likes of Adam Silver and Roger Goodell, breaking down NBA teams and addressing the biggest sports headlines of the day.

But on his twice-a-week podcast, the First Take host likes to get freaky.

For months, I have said on my podcast, SI Media With Jimmy Traina, and written in “Traina Thoughts,” that Smith was going into some wild places on his podcast.

But now it seems like The Stephen A. Smith Show is a full-blown sex advice show.

To be clear, someone giving out sex advice isn’t particularly shocking or newsworthy. What makes it fascinating is that Smith is doing this as an ESPN employee. For so many years, ESPN wanted to keep tight reins on their talent. Now we have the host of NBA Countdown explaining what foods you should and shouldn’t eat before sex.

So when Smith transitions from ESPN Stephen A. Smith to Podcast Stephen A. Smith, he lowers his voice to set the mood and dishes on ANY subject you can think of when it comes to matters of the bedroom.

What is the best meal to eat before sex?

What is the best song to play while having sex?

What is the worst day of the week to be horny?

Does sex need to be more than 11 minutes?

In addition to giving out sex advice, Smith isn’t shy about sharing his own opinions about his own preferences when it comes to the opposite sex.

He has professed his love for Latina women.

And he got very excited about a contestant on the Golden Bachelor.

I don’t know what the end game is for Smith. I don’t know if he’s trying to set up a second career in case something happens at ESPN. I don’t know if he’s just simply having fun with his podcast.

But I have a feeling Smith will keep pushing the envelope as much as he can and embrace his role as the new Dr. Ruth.

2. A brand-new episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina dropped this morning, and it features a conversation with broadcaster Ian Eagle, from CBS, Turner Sports and the YES Network.

Eagle discusses his hectic work weeks during the NFL and NBA seasons, and shares hilarious traveling stories, including the time he almost missed a game after a flight was canceled. Eagle also explains why he still does NFL preseason games, how he’s approaching the college basketball season now that he will call the Final Four for the first time, being the first NFL broadcaster to make a Travis Kelce–Taylor Swift reference, what it’s like to work with Richard Jefferson, what happens when he goes out to dinner with Bill Raftery and much more.

Following Eagle, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, I talk about seeing Bill Burr at Madison Square Garden and a live taping of Conan O’Brien’s podcast last week. We also discuss the big week of NFL games and why Sal has issues with the NFL airing a third game at night on Thanksgiving.

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

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

3. The implementation of the pitch clock was a smashing success in 2023, so MLB wants to take things a step further and cut the time with a runner on base from 20 seconds to 18 seconds next season. While I LOVED the pitch clock, I’m not sure how much time this change would save. I’d rather MLB focus on getting rid of the stupid phantom runner on second base in extra innings.

4. If you had Buffalo +7.5 against Miami (Ohio) Thursday night, you’re in my thoughts and prayers because what this clip doesn’t show you is that the touchdown was reversed and the play was ruled a fumble.

5. Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt spoke for many a man when he had the opportunity to speak to Vanna White during his appearance last night on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

6. Not only do Jason and Travis Kelce have an enormously successful podcast, but now the NFL brothers have the No. 1 song on iTunes.

The Christmas tune is pretty catchy, and the brothers can definitely harmonize.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: I went in depth on this week’s SI Media in item No. 2 about my night at Bill Burr’s stand-up show last week. In honor of the occasion, I’ve been featuring Burr videos in this space all week. Here’s Burr talking about having to give away his dog.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.

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