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Stephen A. Smith Says Golfers and NASCAR Drivers Are Not Athletes

The remark revived a long-running fight over what counts as athleticism.

Overview

  • Smith, whose SiriusXM segment aired Tuesday, said golfers and NASCAR drivers are not athletes.
  • He argued that if people can do an activity in their 60s or 70s, it fails his test for athleticism.
  • Coverage from Awful Announcing, Heavy, Fox News, and Sportsnaut cited motorsports heat, sustained G-forces, weight loss during races, and golf’s miles walked, strength work, and precision training.
  • Reports also noted a narrow exception for Tiger Woods that Smith linked to physical build rather than golf itself.
  • No retraction or clarification had appeared by Wednesday, and the exchange renewed a recurring debate over how to define an athlete.