People flocked to the Michael D. Rose Theater Tuesday night as ESPN journalist Stephen A. Smith spoke about his morals, sports demographics and what it takes to progress in America.
Chosen by The Student Event Allocation committee as this week's Black History Month speaker, Smith came to the University of Memphis on a mission to show people that the man they see on television is the same in person.
"All of these things about me are true, and it is why I absolutely love talking to students," Smith said. "What you see on television is true."
A born and bred New Yorker, Smith grew up with four older sisters and a younger brother who died in a car accident.
In 1993, he graduated from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina and began his career as a high school sportswriter at the New York Daily News. He went on to cover college basketball for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
As a sports journalist, he has covered everything from national college basketball and football along with the National Basketball Association. Smith then went on to ESPN.
Since then, he has flooded the airwaves with his demonstrative, informative and in-your-face perspective.
During Smith's free time, he speaks to college students weary of the "real world" about what it takes to survive in corporate America. At the beginning of his lectures, he makes it clear that he never sugar coats any of the scary facts of life.
"I am considered controversial because I am willing to say stuff that people won't say," Smith said. "I'm willing to look you in the face and say wipe that damn smile off of your face because the world owes you nothing."
During the lecture, Smith spoke on the difference between working a job and having a career. According to him, a job is nothing more than what a person does to earn money and survive, while a career is a fulfilling reward that a person has worked hard to achieve.
He also said that, one of the important steps to working toward a successful career is being around like-minded people who have optimistic attitudes. To Smith, pessimistic individuals do nothing more than drag others down. He constantly reminded himself of this in order to succeed throughout life.
Smith began speaking engagements just two years ago and has since spoken at Fortune 500 companies, colleges and Edge Fund groups. Smith's favorite speeches are given to college students who are emerging into their careers. It is in these situations where he believes he can give the best advice possible.
"I thought Stephen Smith was one of the best speakers to speak at the University," Marlon Ross, senior history major said. "He is known as a controversial person but he came with facts and there is nothing controversial about facts in my opinion."
Brandon Hill, 23-year-old U of M alumni, said Smith teaches students how to be more open-minded while giving them motivation to accomplish their goals and aspirations. Hill believes Smith left his mark on the people that attended the event.
"Stephen A. Smith's lecture was very inspiring," Hill said. "It helped me to be prepared for a lot of things that I will have to face when I am on my way to success."
