(WENN)
Lamar Odom Blasts Stephen A. Smith For “Jokingly Disparaging” Crack Addiction
Stephen A. Smith is backing down from comments he made about Lamar Odom this week, following a response from Odom Saturday. As BOSSIP previously reported, Smith blasted Phil Jackson on the air this week for making poor decisions as the President of the Knicks. Smith specifically said, Jackson’s first executive move was to sign Odom “who was on crack!”
SMH. Mind you, he couched it with the comment that he “loves Lamar Odom the person, and God bless him and we’re wishing nothing but the best.” Still… Odom wasn’t going to let Smith off that easy.
He got right to business and had his lawyer draft a letter which he posted on twitter with the hashtags #slander #ihopewearebetterthanthis
“Let’s put aside the fact that Lamar passed all the required physicals and medical tests necessary to play in the league,” Odom’s attorney, Saam Zangeneh wrote. “Let us look at what this statement does, not only to Lamar, but to any and all professional athletes that are struggling with addiction.”
Mr. Smith chose to jokingly disparage Lamar for having a disease. Mr. Smith chose to shout out the fact that Lamar was sick, and to use his disease as the butt of a joke. To say that his conduct was outrageous and unacceptable does not scratch the surface. Think about the others that are battling addiction. Those that have not had the strength or opportunity to share their struggle like Lamar. Imagine the effect this grotesque statement would have on any young athlete who is privately fighting this disease. To become the punch line of a vulgar joke.”
“Since his release from the hospital Lamar has been actively working within the addiction community. On June 20, the day before the show, Lamar traveled to a rehab facility in Davie, Florida. Here he spoke to the patients at Live Free Institute and shared his story with young impressionable minds.“We hope that those at ESPN will actively voice their disdain for Mr. Smith’s inappropriate statement and take the proper action to support those that are fighting this disease. We would hope that your network would use this situation as an opportunity to become more actively involved in this case.”
A lot of truths in this right? Do you agree that addiction is a brain diseas and that Lamar shouldn’t be ridiculed for what he’s gone through with drugs?
According to US Weekly reports, Stephen A. responded to Lamar’s response, but tell us if this statement, which he issued via ESPN sounds like an apology to you:
“Because of my personal affection for Lamar Odom — and only for that reason — I want to return to my comments about something I’ve repeated quite often over the last few days: the flagrant ineptitude that I feel has been on continual display by New York Knick’s President Phil Jackson,” he said in the statement.
“My comments were NOT to put any more focus on Lamar Odom’s much-publicized drug use and addiction. He was not the target of my ire,” he continued. “Lamar Odom is simply one of the nicest athletes any of us have encountered, and has always been a gentleman to everyone in NBA circles — including me — which is something I’ve repeated throughout the years.”
“That’s why it’s worth repeating: Lamar Odom was not the focus of my ire. My comments were entirely, totally, meant for Phil Jackson. Anyone who loves the NY Knicks, who’ve witnessed what has been transpiring over the last three years, know exactly who I was directing my comments to. And Why!”
Do you think Stephen A. entiredly missed Lamar’s point? Does he deserve a fade from Odom and Phil Jackson now?
