In a dramatic change of tune, ESPN’s highest-paid commentator has acknowledged his past errors and extended an apology to Kyrie Irving. Irving faced considerable public criticism and endured a substantial financial loss, taking an $11.4 million pay cut during the 2021–22 NBA season after refusing to comply with New York’s COVID vaccine mandate.
At that time, the commentator was vociferous in labeling Irving as “selfish” due to his decision, which rendered him unable to participate in any home games for the Brooklyn Nets.
However, suspending his vacation plans, the commentator had a change of heart last night after witnessing Anthony Fauci’s oversight testimony. Fauci’s repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment—111 times, no less—prompted even Chris Cuomo, a known associate of the commentator, to suggest that Fauci might be “hiding something.”
This spectacle prompted a period of introspection for the commentator, compelling him to view past events from a fresh perspective, realizing it was “a time for reflection” and to reconsider previous judgments.
“There are several people to whom we owe apologies,” the commentator confessed, “but none more significant than the apology I owe to Kyrie Irving.” His candid acknowledgment marks a striking moment of reconciliation.
“This is not about him, the basketball player. This is about him, the man.”
“The reality is Kyrie Irving, no matter what we think, may have been MORE RIGHT than we have given him credit for and unquestionably was more vilified than he deserved.”
“I watched Dr. Fauci on Capitol Hill yesterday, and the person I thought about most was Kyrie Irving,” Smith continued.
“Kyrie Irving stood out in my mind because of the heat that he was taking… He refused the vaccine. New York City’s mandate made him ineligible for home games, and he linked his stance to people losing jobs over vaccine mandates.”
“In my opinion, particularly hindsight-wise, it didn’t make him stubborn or selfish. It made him brave. His willingness to stand up and say, ‘Nah, I’m not doing that.’”
“It’s just a time for reflection — to look at things differently.”
Smith concluded his apology with one final statement that summarizes the Kyrie Irving vaccine mandate saga perfectly:
“It turns out that, no matter what the truth is behind all of this, Kyrie Irving did nobody wrong. We did him wrong.”
“I did him wrong. And for that, I’m sincerely sorry.”
Kyrie gave up $11,400,000 in game checks during the 21-22 NBA season and a $100,000,000 extension with the Nets to be unvaccinated.
That cements his holdout as the largest financial sacrifice any athlete has ever made over an issue in history.