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Stephen A. Smith Sorry for Making it Sound Like Legendary College Hoops Coach Was Dead

Andy Nesbitt

Stephen A. Smith apologized for making it sound like legendary college hoops coach Nolan Richardson had died.
Stephen A. Smith apologized for making it sound like legendary college hoops coach Nolan Richardson had died. / @ESPN
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Stephen A. Smith has been in the apology business lately. Earlier this week he said he was sorry for saying LeBron James didn't attend Kobe Bryant's memorial service and then a few days later he said he was sorry for making it sound like legendary basketball coach Nolan Richardson was dead when he is in fact still very much alive.

That Richardson gaffe came when Smith was talking about Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari and how he'll be able to recruit just as well as Richardson did when he was the program's head coach.

"He's gonna be able to recruit better than anybody ever has there outside of Mr. 40 Minutes of Hell himself, the late, great Nolan Richardson. God rest his soul," Smith said.

Smith later corrected himself, saying: "I am fully aware that Nolan Richardson is alive. Trust me. I apologize for that. I know he’s alive, I’ve always known that. "

Seems like all the hours Smith spends yelling about sports on TV might be wearing him down a little bit.

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Andy Nesbitt
ANDY NESBITT

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.

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