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We are less than 72 hours into 2024, and Stephen A. Smith has already delivered a contender for Worst Take of the Year.
During a segment of ESPN First Take, Stephen A. shared his thoughts on the Rose Bowl and suggested it should be moved to SoFi Stadium because the traffic to Pasadena was horrible.
“This is a spectacular stadium, and all I’m trying to say is you’ve got 100,000 people showing up. Literally, you get off the highway, so traffic is backed up for miles trying to get off the exit. …It’s only one lane, and 100,000 people,” Stephen A. said.
“I mean, d*mn! It’s difficult to get to the d*mn game! I swear to you, and this is bougie, I swear to you, if I could have, I’d have took a helicopter there. If they’d have let me, I’d have took a helicopter there. Traffic was that bad.”
Traffic to the Rose Bowl was so bad, Stephen A either wants the game moved to SoFi or for him to be allowed to arrive at the game via helicopter.
The First Take crew wasn't feeling either option. pic.twitter.com/TWOnVLlqfw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 3, 2024
Marcus Spears and Molly Qerim roasted Stephen A. for his horrendous take and the disagreement with Stephen A. spilled over to X where he continued to get roasted by fans and pundits.
Thoughts and prayers to the college football casuals who have to sit in traffic once a year to attend a game. https://t.co/bKRc114UIH
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 3, 2024
Stephen A is an out of touch millionaire who has more in common with sports owners than he does with actual fans. This is the worst sports take of the year, and we’re only 3 days in @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/rNdJ5kF6SO
— Cody (@SmashHitsSports) January 3, 2024
Stephen A Smith if ESPN didn’t pay him millions of dollars to say the Rose Bowl should be played at Sofi Stadium
pic.twitter.com/llbbBL9g68— Cole Adams (@coleadamss) January 3, 2024
@stephenasmith @MadDogUnleashed @FirstTake not only should the #RoseBowl continue to be held at the iconic stadium, it should be the championship game from now on as well. Much more scenic and iconic than nrg stadium. @stephenasmith u live in nyc, u can handle a little traffic.
— Michael Cohn (@mgcohn02) January 3, 2024
Espn should never be able to talk abt football again… Stephen A Smith said they should move the Rose Bowl to SOFI STADIUM… HUHHHH??? the Rose Bowl is the greatest venue in sports dawg
— Cole Baggett (@ColeBaggett5) January 3, 2024
I will be boycotting first take after hearing that @stephenasmith wants the rose bowl game to be moved from Pasadena to that god forsaken dome called sofi stadium. Absolutely disgusting take and I think he should not be allowed to mutter a word about college football #firsttake
— Jake Ksiazek (@JakeKsiazek) January 3, 2024
It seems like we all agree that Stephen A. should keep his college football opinions to himself.
Not only is he completely out of touch, but college football fans actually seem to think the national championship game should be permanently moved to the Rose Bowl. That’d be a tough pill for Stephen A. to swallow.
