The oldest civil rights organization in America, the NAACP, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Image Awards later this month. Again, The NAACP Image Awards will be hosted by Anthony Anderson, star of ABC’s hit sitcom black-ish. One of the nominees this year is ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in the category of Outstanding Talk Series for his extremely popular sports debate show First Take, along with his co-host Molly Qerim and Max Kellerman.
Remarking on his nomination, Smith said, “I’d be lying if I said wouldn’t mean a lot to me. Because obviously, when you consider the history of the NAACP and all the work that has been done, to bring attention to the trials, and tribulations, the plights and ultimately the accomplishments of our community, it’s near and dear to my heart, from the standpoint. But just being nominated is validation enough for me. It means that I’m doing something right.”
Stephen A. Smith is one most accomplished and popular media personalities giving commentary on sports, politics, and pop culture. A graduate of Winston-Salem State University, an HBCU, Smith began his career as a writer for the New York Daily News and then The Philadelphia Inquirer. He began reporting on the Philadelphia 76ers as their NBA columnist, and eventually, as a general sports columnist. He then went on to become an on-air contributor to Fox Sports Radio.
His provocative style earned him his first opportunity at ESPN in 2003 when he was a contributor to NBA Shootaround (since renamed NBA Countdown). Since then, he has hosted a variety of shows on ESPN radio and ESPN before taking the reins of First Take in 2012. With all of his obligations, he still finds time to host his own daily radio show, The Stephen A. Smith Show, to giving a running commentary on NBA games, boxing matches, and he has a recurring role on his favorite soap opera General Hospital.
The NAACP Image Awards will air LIVE on TV One on March 30, 2019.
—- THE SOURCE