ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has offered an apology for saying the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani isn’t the best star for Major League Baseball because he doesn’t speak fluent English.
In Monday morning’s episode of “First Take,” Smith said, “I don’t think it helps that the No. 1 face is a dude that needs an interpreter so you can understand what the hell he’s saying. In this country.”
Smith mentioned other star athletes who also had to overcome the language barrier but made the adjustment during their time as professionals in America.
“In other sports, Max, like basketball, you notice, you know, Dirk Nowitzki was German, and Manu Ginóbili and others were from other places, and guess what, Max?