ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith struck a nerve with golf and NASCAR fans this week, that’s for sure.
Smith was praising LeBron James‘ longevity during this Monday’s edition of his Mad Dog Sports Radio show. His comments about the Los Angeles Lakers star inspired sports fans to name athletes who belong in this impressive category.
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A SiriusXM caller mentioned NASCAR legend Richard Petty as one of the greatest athletes of all time. That suggestion didn’t sit well with Smith.
“Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car,” Smith said. “I’m being honest, it’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.”
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith looks on before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
Smith then declared that golfers and NASCAR drivers aren’t truly athletes.
“You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete,” Smith said, via Awful Announcing. “Just because you gotta walk the course for 18 holes for four days, that don’t make you an athlete. They’re skilled players, they’re elite at what they do. But athletes? Athletes? Are you kidding me? Is walking the latest sport that you want to turn into an Olympic sport? Because I guess that would make them athletic, right? Because they can walk. If you’re out there doing stuff that grandmas and grandpas can do, I’m not gonna look at you that way. You’re skilled, you’re phenomenally skilled as a golfer…but that is not an athletic sport.”
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This seems a bit harsh, especially since golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods deserve strong praise.
The legacy of Richard Petty.
Smith won’t place any NASCAR drivers on his Mount Rushmore, but there’s no denying that Petty had an exceptional career.
Petty holds the record for most NASCAR Cup Series wins in a season, he won the Daytona 500 a whopping seven times, and he’s a member of just about every Motorsports Hall of Fame in America. Heck, the Richard Petty Museum in North Carolina is dedicated to his legacy on and off the track.
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Do you believe Petty’s résumé deserves more respect from Smith?
This story was originally published by The Spun on Apr 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
