Stephen A. Smith interrupted his vacation on Thursday to issue a sweeping public apology to Kyrie Irving, admitting he treated the NBA star unfairly over his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fauci Testimony Changed Everything
The reversal came after Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where the former federal health official repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment. ABC News reported that Fauci followed his attorneys' advice to decline answering multiple questions about how vaccine mandates were implemented.
That testimony forced Smith to reconsider athletes who opposed mandates, including Aaron Rodgers, Novak Djokovic, Cole Beasley, and Kirk Cousins. But he reserved his strongest words for Irving.
Direct Quote From Smith
There's several people that we all owe apologies to. And I'll put myself at the front of the list. But none more so than the apology that I owe to Kyrie Irving.
Smith acknowledged that his attacks helped fuel the hostility Irving encountered while refusing vaccination during his Brooklyn Nets tenure.
The reality is that Kyrie Irving no matter what we think may have been more right than we have given him credit for and unquestionably was more vilified than he deserved. And ladies and gentlemen it starts with me.
What Irving Lost
During the 2021-2022 NBA season, Kyrie Irving lost approximately $17 million in salary after refusing to comply with New York City's vaccine mandate. He was barred from playing home games at Barclays Center for months and was eventually traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks.
Last season, Irving helped lead Dallas to the NBA Finals and signed a long-term extension, rebuilding his reputation through play rather than public statements. He has not responded to Smith's apology.
Bottom Line
A man who spent years calling Irving irresponsible is now calling him brave. The cost of being right early was $17 million and two years of his prime. No apology gives that back.
