ESPN Analyst Under Fire NFL Legend's Revealed Without Consent Echoing Michael Jordan

• NFL

In the ever-evolving world of sports journalism, debates about the "greatest of all time" in any category are bound to get heated. Recently, basketball aficionados found themselves deep in conversation, comparing Hall of Famer Magic Johnson to 4-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry.

Amidst this, Michael Jordan, the iconic Chicago Bulls player, voiced his preference for Magic Johnson via a text message, which was read aloud on ESPN´s "First Take" by Stephen A. Smith.

Smith-Owens Broadcast Dispute

While Smith had Jordan´s green light to broadcast his opinion, it seems he might not have had the same permission in a separate incident involving NFL legend, Terrell Owens.

This has reignited a longstanding feud between the ESPN analyst and Owens, a dispute that originally began in 2019. At that time, Owens controversially commented that Stephen A.’s then-co-host, Max Kellerman, appeared "blacker" than him.

Smith did not take kindly to the comment and rebuked the former wide receiver. The animosity resurfaced when Owens drew attention to that past incident, following Smith´s candid admission on The Joe Budden Podcast about his strained relationship with Kellerman.

Taking a further dive into the murky waters of their discord, Owens, during an appearance on the "All The Smoke Podcast" with hosts Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, claimed that Smith had made public a private text conversation without Owens´s consent.

Jackson, a former NBA Champion, vehemently criticized Smith´s alleged action, emphasizing the need for respecting private conversations. The situation took a legal twist when Owens mentioned that a lawyer advised him about the potential illegality of Smith´s supposed action.

In his defense, Smith vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he has maintained a clean record throughout his career. If Owens´s assertions hold weight, this could spell both legal and ethical trouble for Stephen A.

Smith. As this story continues to unfold, the importance of respecting boundaries in the age of digital communication becomes increasingly evident.