ESPN’s Stephen A Smith: Alex Rodriguez a ‘Phony to the End’

On Monday’s broadcast of “First Take” on ESPN2, co-host Stephen A. Smith reacted to the belief that New York Yankees designated hitter and third baseman Alex Rodriguez deserves to be in the MLB Hall of Fame, despite using steroids in his career, by calling that notion “asinine,” and saying the 41-year-old is “a phony to the end.”

Smith mocked Rodriguez’s retirement announcement, saying it was “an embarrassment” and the Yankees and Rodriguez “should be utterly ashamed.”

“This dude was a fake and a phony years ago, proved it again twice and then finished it off with that bogus press conference yesterday which the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez should be utterly ashamed for putting in front of our faces. What an embarrassment, an embarrassment that this man showed up yesterday!” Smith exclaimed.

Smith continued his rant, and even asked Rodriguez if he wants to act on “General Hospital,” which Smith appeared on earlier this year.

“Did you notice he wasn’t wearing a Yankee jersey. He has on something for himself, his own brand. You are saying goodbye. You need a speech? For what? For what? Not only did he need the speech, then he turns around, he doesn’t cry, he takes off the cap, looks into the camera and just looks up, oh, my Lord. Forget me. Do you want to roll on ‘General Hospital,’ A-Rod? That is what I want to know. This dude is a hell of a better actor than me. This dude is unbelievable. A phony to the end. Everything about this dude has been fake. Everything,” he said.

Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent