Stephen A. Smith took an unapologetic stance on O.J. Simpson being granted an early release from Lovelock Correctional Facility by the state of Nevada's parole board on Thursday, July 20. During First Take's coverage of the decision, the ESPN host explained that while he understands how the ruling was the proper legal outcome, he just finds it to be unfortunate that it ever came to Simpson being free to have committed armed robbery in the first place. Were it up to Stephen A., O.J. would have been locked up when he attempted to pull the heist nine years ago, and he'd be in prison now.
"We all understand that for the letter of the law the right decision was made. It's just that it's a damn shame that he gets to lean on the letter of the law, and the state of Nevada and the parole committee had to lean on the letter of the law because he's somebody that I believe doesn't only deserve to be in jail he deserves to be under the jail," Smith said. "This man, as far as I'm concerned, is a double murderer. Uh, he's somebody that should never, ever, ever see freedom again. But it should be for the murder. For the double murder. It shouldn't be for this."
Smith then went on to expound on how he was disgusted with the whole process. Simpson was overly loquacious during the hearing, Smith said, and should have spoken less. The parole committee members on hand were just as difficult to watch, he said, highlighting the moment the room laughed about a factual blunder one of them shared aloud about Simpson's age and the fact that another member wore a tie with football designs on it, as shameful.
Source: YouTube
