ESPN analyst and podcast host Ryan Clark shared that being slighted by Stephen A. Smith motivated him to professionally match his success. The Pivot Podcast co-host opened up about it during his appearance on the latest episode of the Idea Generation podcast hosted by Noah Callahan-Bever of Complex.
Clark, a former NFL star safety and Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, spoke about the moment that changed his motivation for doing media at the 5:10 minute mark of the interview. “I didn’t really have this great reason for getting up and doing it…I told this story maybe once: Stephen A. was asked years ago who are like the next Stephen A.s, who are the athletes who would be the next guys.” Clark said, “And he didn’t mention me. And I was the first player to have a TV contract – first active player.”
He continued, “Well, naturally, that’s my trajectory, right? I’m supposed to be a trendsetter.”But you said those two dudes? Aight, bet. I got you. I’ll show you.” Clark stated that the non-mention put him in “competing” mode against the other two Smith named. “And when I walk off this set I want to know and feel in my heart, ‘Man, I killed dude,’” Clark added. “As great as I want him to do, because he might be my friend, he might be my colleague, I want to crush him. And that was kind of how things started to change for me.”
Clark has parlayed that moment into becoming one of the top analysts in sports media, becoming a fixture on ESPN’s First Take as well as the network’s NFL coverage and its premier show, NFL Live. Along with former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor as co-hosts of The Pivot Podcast, Clark has seen the show attain 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube alone.
Clark has also not been one to shy away from confronting certain issues, evidenced by his recent back-and-forth with former ESPN analyst and former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III over his comments regarding WNBA player Caitlin Clark’s hard foul on Angel Reese. The dispute went viral on social media, and Smith vocalized his support of Clark after he faced numerous attacks from trolls.
Check out the entire interview above.
Ryan Clark Cites Stephen A. Smith Snub For Career Push
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