{"title":"Stephen a. Smith","description":"Stephen A. Smith rose from a reporter on high school sports at the Daily News (New York) and college and NBA beat reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer to become the face of ESPN and its most important on-air personality. He is the star of the #1 morning sports talk show First Take; a premiere analyst on ESPN and ABC's NBA Countdown; the host of NBA in Stephen A's World on ESPN2 and ESPN+; and the host and producer of the podcast K[no]w Mercy with Stephen A. Smith. Smith has more than 12 million followers across social media platforms, and his opinions on sports make daily headlines. Follow him on Twitter @StephenASmith.","products":[{"product_id":"straight-shooter-a-memoir-of-second-chances-and-first-takes-paperback","title":"Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAN NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAmerica's most popular sports media figure tells it like it is in this \"raw, deeply authentic, and immensely entertaining\" (Bob Iger, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author and CEO of The Walt Disney Company) book, not only dishing out his signature, uninhibited opinions but also revealing the challenges he overcame in childhood as well as at ESPN.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eStephen A. Smith has never been handed anything, nor was he an overnight success. Growing up poor in Queens, the son of Caribbean immigrants and the youngest of six children, he was a sports-obsessed kid who faced struggles, from undiagnosed dyslexia to getting enough cereal to fill his bowl. As a basketball player at Winston-Salem State University, he got a glimmer of his true calling when he wrote a newspaper column arguing for the retirement of his own Hall of Fame coach, Clarence Gaines. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSmith hustled and rose up from a reporter on the high school beat at \u003ci\u003eDaily News\u003c\/i\u003e (New York) to a general sports columnist at \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003ePhiladelphia \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eInquirer \u003c\/i\u003ebefore getting his own show at ESPN in 2005. After he was unceremoniously fired from the network in 2009, he became even more determined to fight for success. He got himself rehired two years later and, with his razor-sharp intelligence and fearless debate style, found the show he was destined to star in: \u003ci\u003eFirst Take\u003c\/i\u003e, the network's flagship morning program. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eStraight Shooter\u003c\/i\u003e, Smith writes about the greatest highs and deepest lows of his life and career. He gives his thoughts on Skip Bayless, Ray Rice, Colin Kaepernick, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Cowboys, and former President Donald Trump. But he also pulls back the curtain and talks about life beyond the set, sharing authentic stories about his negligent father, his loving mother, being a father himself, his battle with life-threatening COVID-19, and what he really thinks about politics and social issues. He does it all with the same intelligence, humor, and charm that has made him a household name. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA provocative and moving \"blueprint of tenacity\" (Fat Joe), this book is the perfect gift for lovers of sports, television, and anyone who likes their stories delivered straight to the heart.","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51434193551583,"sku":"9781982189501","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/hfd22Cbhtz9781982189501.webp?v=1790024777"},{"product_id":"men-of-god-men-of-war-paperback","title":"Men of God - Men of War - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is about two men, two journeys, two stories-and one shared vision. Nate learned his lessons through war; Steve learned his lessons through a twisted faith. Neither of these paths make these men unique. Like all men, they loved and they hated. Like all men, they suffered and they caused suffering. Like all men, they both chose and were forced to find their own ways. This book is their story. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e*** \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Nate and Steve Smith have written a unique memoir that demonstrates the power of brotherhood and family over war and conflict. Raised in a cult, rebellious Nate escapes to the Marine Corps and finds himself fighting in Iraq's toughest province while Steve wrestles with the guilt of a religion that's been forced upon him. Their struggles are unique and individual - that's how the book is written - but their paths converge and in so doing reveal the true power of brotherly love.\"\u003cbr\u003e Owen West, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations (2017-19) \u0026amp; author of \u003ci\u003eSharkman Six\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Snake Eaters\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Two brothers, separated by oceans and a tyrannical leader, find their way back together. The premise sounds Shakespearean or Biblical - but it is, in fact, real life. Written with wisdom and grace, Nathan and Stephen Smith's tale of escape from a cult in rural Maine is a timeless story, loaded with universality.\"\u003cbr\u003e Rob Wolfe, \u003ci\u003eWashington Monthly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A deeply evocative exposition on love, loss, family and faith. Beautifully written and masterfully intertwined accounts from the battlefields of body and spirit. At once sobering and uplifting.\"\u003cbr\u003e Ajax Trueblood, author of \u003ci\u003eBastards and Brothers: Marines and the Fight for Al-Qaim, Iraq\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An incredible story about two brothers' journey through pain, combat, faith, and redemption. I was emotionally invested in this story from start to finish and left inspired by the authors' humility and compassion.\"\u003cbr\u003e Brian Stann, recipient of the Silver Star \u0026amp; author of \u003ci\u003eHeart for the Fight.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eMen of God Men of War\u003c\/i\u003e is a story with multiple layers. In vivid detail, Nate brings you into the Iraq war 'on mission, ' while Steve takes you into the mind of a man captured by toxic faith. These tales hinge on these twin brothers' broken relationship. Their years-long separation and ultimate reconciliation forms the bedrock of their journeys. I found this book captivating . . . and true evidence of God's work through broken men.\"\u003cbr\u003e F. Remy Diederich, author of \u003ci\u003eBroken Trust.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"This book is a quest to the frontier of the male psyche in which two brothers, separated by their individual journeys of meaning and identity, find each other once again. It's a tale of vulnerability, courage, and transformation - and a testament to the power of the human spirit to reclaim itself and recover lost bonds.\"\u003cbr\u003e William Schultz, clinical therapist \u0026amp; author of \u003ci\u003eMental Health. Biology, Agency, Meaning.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eMen of God Men of War\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliant 'twemoir, ' offering accounts from twin brothers recounting intertwining narratives. Both men engage in spiritual battles while separated by a church's legalism and a country at war. One fights in a literal battle followed by PTSD; the other engages in a war for his mind as he faces down spiritual abuse. Both rage against lies and murderous forces vying for their souls. And both demonstrate that in the end, love is the most powerful conqueror of all. Highly recommended.\" \u003cbr\u003e Sandra Glahn, award-winning novelist and seminary professor","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67967071715551,"sku":"9781944296261","price":25.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/gTmApJQM6K9781944296261.webp?v=1791730359"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/stephen-a-smith.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}