FIRST Take host Molly Qerim called out Stephen A. Smith live for his comments about Dan Hurley’s wife.
The ESPN anchor berated her colleague Smith during a tense segment on Tuesday’s edition of the sports debate show.
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Smith suggested that Hurley’s wife, Andrea, contributed to him turning down a $70 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers.
The UConn coach appeared ready to take on the head coaching role in L.A. before the turnaround earlier this month.
Hurley admitted during a tell-all interview on June 13 that his wife was “violently angry and emotional” at the prospect of moving to Los Angeles.
Smith claims NBA insiders told him Hurley was ready to sign with the Lakers — but Andrea blocked his move to the West Coast.
“Allow me to tell you what sources in Los Angeles told me,” Smith said.
“They thought they had a deal with Danny Hurley. They thought he had flown to Los Angeles [to sign].
“And whether it’s true or not, I can guarantee there are people within the Lakers organization who believe Ms. Hurley made that decision.”
“That’s not fair,” Qerim interrupted, shaking his head.
“That’s not fair, don’t put that on her. I don’t think that’s factual.”
“That’s not a bad thing!” a shaken Smith responded, adding, “How is that not fair?
“We hear countless people who are happily married talk about how deeply important their spouse’s feelings are.
“Of course she had some input into the decision. Why is that a bad thing?” replied a fan on X.
“Hurley himself said something to the same effect. It was a family decision,” added another.
“I would like Molly to explain why she doesn’t think this is factual. Unless she has some inside information, it’s completely reasonable that one half of a marriage could make the other reject a job offer,” commented a third.
The Lakers named former NBA star and ESPN analyst JJ Redick on Monday.
Molly Qerim’s life in the spotlight
Molly Qerim rose through the ranks to become one of ESPN’s biggest stars.
The popular sports presenter began her media career in 2006 at ESPN and spent four years with the network.
She then covered college basketball and football for the CBS Sports Network in New York.
Qerim balanced this with hosting duties for the NFL Network in Los Angeles – fronting NFLAM and NFL Fantasy Live.
The host returned to ESPN in 2015 and immediately took on the role of First Take anchor.
And Qerim has been a popular and ever-present host of the daily sports debate show ever since.
Hurley opted to stay with the Huskies and will aim for a historic third consecutive NCAA title next season.
He signed a $32.1 million 2023 contract extension with the school that runs through 2029.
“[Andrea] it was bad at first, but then she cheered up when we got there and she met [Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka and her met Jeanie [Buss] and felt the atmosphere,” Hurley explained to The Dan Le Batard show with Stugotz.
“We drove around Manhattan Beach and mostly met the people.
“But then when we got back to Connecticut without having made a decision, we went home and we both retreated. [to UConn].”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
