USAT: Giants Wire audio clip

USAT: Giants Wire

Feb 10, 2022

Shortly after Brian Flores announced his lawsuit against the NFL and several of its teams, including the New York Giants, the conversation over racism and systemically racist hiring practices grew loud. - Among the first to sound off was ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, who took direct aim at the Giants. - “Let me say this to the New York Giants. As an organization, when it comes to black coaches, I don’t believe a damn word you have to say,” Smith said on First Take. “There’s no one more incriminating than the New York Giants when it comes to black coaches. We are in the year 2022. All of these years, damn near a century for crying out loud, there is one single franchise that has not had a black coach. That is the New York Giants.” - Smith’s comments prompted retired Giants running back Tiki Barber, who now works as a radio host for WFAN, to offer an emotional and emphatic defense of his former team. - “I can’t sit here, with conviction, like Stephen A., who doesn’t know anybody in the Giants’ organization and claim that they’re a racist organization. I would never do that. The only reason I would do that is because I’m trying to make a point, and my point is that Brian Flores is trying to make a point,” Barber said. - “The fact that the Maras, and I always said this with the Tisches as well, they embraced me like I was family. I know them intimately, so when I say I don’t believe they’re racist it’s because I know they’re not … I know they’re not a racist organization.” - Those comments did not sit well with Smith, who was quick to fire back at Barber with a stern “warning” — something others have referred to as a “threat.” - “Tiki, you don’t know who the hell I know. I’ve been a journalist for almost 30 years, I know a few people within the Giants organization,” Smith said. “I know a lot of stuff about you, my brother, that I would never say because I have the decency not to say those things. - “Chill out. Watch yourself and know who you’re talking about. That’s all I want to say.” - During Tuesday’s edition of Tiki and Tierney, Barber addressed Smith’s “warning” and offered an apology of sorts. But not before taking one last swipe at ESPN’s shock jock. - “It is not worth my emotional energy to get bent out of shape about something that I have no control over,” Barber said. “I have much respect for Stephen A. Smith. He is the prominent Black journalist in sports right now, so if he felt affronted by a conversation that I was having — that wasn’t actually about him. It was about how we have used and hijacked racism to make excuses for failing diversity initiatives — then I apologize to Stephen A. Smith. - “But that being said, he is the prominent Black journalist on a major network, and threatening another Black man is not what this country should be about. Period.” - Something tells us the back-and-forth between Barber and Smith isn’t over just yet. - - List - - Giants to hire Don Martindale as defensive coordinator: 7 things to know - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Giants Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Giants Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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