Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

MCW took aim at shouting head Stephen A. Smith in his Players’ Tribune piece about (not) tanking yesterday:

The media creates this narrative and repeats it over and over. That’s how Stephen A. Smith ends up in our locker room with a big smile on his face (on night the Sixers were supposed to set losing streak record). I’m not picking on him. I know he’s playing a character. He knows he’s playing a character. But what happens when we break the streak by going out and beating Detroit that night? Now it’s another story. After the game, a lot of the reporters didn’t even stick around. The ones that did weren’t prepared. They didn’t ask us about the specifics of the game. They made up questions on the spot, like, “Uh, hey, you guys won … so how do you feel?”

We weren’t the story anymore. They were on to the next thing. Stephen A. didn’t really stick around. I guess he had a plane to catch. Believe me, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t come back for the same reason.

Of course, not letting anyone else have the last word on anything that has ever happened, Mr. A. Smith started tweeting when he read MCW’s comments. It’s classic Stephen A. through and through, and you win the day if you can read this without hearing him screaming in your head [aggregated]:

“I’m sitting here waiting to catch a plane and finally I run across MCW’s comments about me in the “Players Tribune.” For the record: MCW is misinformed. First, never once have I accused any player of throwing games; the finger was pointed at the org. Secondly, that was last year, not this season. Thirdly, it was the absolute truth. Fourth, most folks think it still is — but I haven’t said so. Fifth: if MCW we’re [sic] paying attention, or had spoken to numerous employees who have been friends of mine for years*, he would’ve known I stuck around for 2 hours. I was actually in the back of the locker room with his coach AND GM. As for sticking around, what to you want me to say: Congrats on ending a 26-game losing streak? You’ve got a bright future MCW. I respect you. I root for the 76ers. But be careful who you try and call out. You’ll never have the last word. Ask some folks within the Sixers organization, they’ll tell you. They know first-hand. Wrong-brother!”

Okay, first off, as far as I can tell, MCW never said Stephen A. accused him of throwing games. He also never said it was this season. And quite frankly, Stephen A. correcting two non-mistakes is a bad way to start this all off. His response really does hammer home one thing MCW said, though: “I know [Stephen A. Smith’s] playing a character. He knows he’s playing a character.”

*If you’re playing along with the Stephen A. Smith drinking game, you have to finish your beer.