ESPN's Stephen A. Smith , Offers Apology, to Angels' Ohtani.<br />ESPN's Stephen A. Smith , Offers Apology, to Angels' Ohtani.<br />Smith previously said that Ohtani, <br />a Japanese-born Major League Baseball sensation, <br />could not be the face of the sport due to <br />his need for an interpreter.<br />Smith previously said that Ohtani, <br />a Japanese-born Major League Baseball sensation, <br />could not be the face of the sport due to <br />his need for an interpreter.<br />His comments<br />came the same day that <br />Ohtani became the first <br />Japanese-born player <br />to participate in MLB's <br />Home Run Derby.<br />Criticism was swift, and Smith initially doubled down on his comments by clarifying that he was "talking about the marketability and the promotion of the sport." .<br />Criticism was swift, and Smith initially doubled down on his comments by clarifying that he was "talking about the marketability and the promotion of the sport." .<br />This only <br />drew more criticism <br />on social media, and <br />then Smith apologized.<br />As an African-American, <br />keenly aware of the damage <br />stereotyping has done to <br />many in this country, it <br />should've elevated my <br />sensitivities even more, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.<br />I screwed up. In this day <br />and age, with all the violence <br />being perpetrated against the <br />Asian Community, my comments, <br />albeit unintentional, were clearly <br />insensitive and regrettable, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.<br />I’m sincerely sorry for <br />any angst I’ve caused <br />with my comments, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.<br />Keith Olbermann, <br />a former ESPN <br />commentator, <br />called for Smith <br />to be suspended.<br />Olbermann said that Smith's <br />comments came at a particularly<br />dangerous time of heightened <br />anti-Asian violence. .<br />Ohtani, a two-way Angels superstar, played professional Japanese baseball for several years before signing with the Angels in 2017.<br />Ohtani, a two-way Angels superstar, played professional Japanese baseball for several years before signing with the Angels in 2017.<br />In 2018, he was named <br />American League Rookie of the Year.<br />In 2018, he was named <br />American League Rookie of the Year
