Stephen A. Smith recently shed light on why Deion Sanders publicly rebuffed CBS. The situation gained attention after Coach Prime refused to speak to a local CBS reporter, Eric Christensen, calling the network’s actions “uncouth.” Although Christensen clarified that he was a local, not a national, reporter, Sanders was unmoved.
Initially, it was suggested that Sanders’ animosity toward the network was based on certain stories being written about him. However, a possible explanation came from Phillip Dukes, a close friend of Sanders, who suggested that a failed business deal or partnership with CBS could be the cause of the problem. Sanders seemingly confirmed this theory by re-sharing Dukes’ video on social media and adding his own comments, further fueling speculation.
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However, Stephen A. Smith believes there is more to the story. According to Smith, the tension between Sanders and CBS is related to an incident involving a black reporter working on an important story about Sanders. When the story was almost finished, the reporter was allegedly pulled from the project and replaced by a white colleague. This move reportedly enraged Sanders, who disagreed with the network’s handling of the situation. Smith stressed that this information came from sources close to Sanders, suggesting that this was the real reason for Sanders’ frustration with CBS.
“A reporter who happened to be a brother had a story they were working on, and the story was about to be published,” Smith said. “And when the information came together, the brother was taken off the story, according to people close to Deion Sanders. And in turn, the story was given to a white man. Prime Time anchor Deion Sanders had a problem with that. He may not tell you. Most other people may not know; I’m telling you. According to people close to Deion Sanders, that’s what happened – that’s exactly what happened.”
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Smith also speculated that Sanders’ past experience with CBS may have contributed to the tensions. Sanders previously worked for the network as an NFL analyst from 2002 to 2004. During that time, he was reportedly involved in a contract dispute with CBS because he felt he deserved to be the team’s highest-paid analyst. While Smith initially thought this might be the reason for Sanders’ current issues with CBS, he later confirmed that the situation with the black reporter was the main reason.
Smith stressed the importance of supporting and encouraging others, especially in industries where opportunities for minorities are scarce. He emphasized that despite the challenges his team faced during the season, Sanders continues to be a major figure in college football and someone who naturally stands up for those he believes have been wronged.
Ultimately, Smith’s findings suggest that Sanders’ actions stem from a deep sense of justice and loyalty to his community and reflect his broad commitment to using his platform for positive change.
