On his SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show, Stephen A. Smith opened in an unusually somber tone, explaining that he couldn’t just launch into sports talk with his usual passion. The reason was the shocking killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah. Kirk, only 31, was delivering a speech at Utah Valley University when he was struck in the neck by a rifle shot fired from 200 yards away. The tragedy unfolded in front of thousands of onlookers, including his wife and his two young children, both under five, who watched their father collapse and die.
Smith stressed that this act of violence should horrify everyone, regardless of political stance. He condemned those online who celebrated Kirk’s death, calling it shameful and inhumane. For Smith, the most painful part was imagining Kirk’s wife now widowed and his children left fatherless over nothing more than differences in ideas.
He applauded the New York Yankees for holding a moment of silence and urged people not to let political divides blind them to basic humanity. As a Black man in America, Smith acknowledged the nation’s flaws but insisted that the majority of people—across all races and backgrounds—are decent, loving, and good.
Smith explained that while sports are his professional focus, they also carry deeper meaning. Games bring people of every background together in unity, joy, and shared passion. In moments of tragedy, sports often provide the reprieve and common ground that society desperately needs.
His ultimate message was clear: violence cannot be condoned, differences should never justify murder, and America must remember its strength lies in its diversity and compassion. Sports, Smith concluded, can help remind us of that love and unity—and in times like this, we need it more than ever.
