Our love for sports and the unity they bring are the reasons we tune in to ESPN every day. But recently, these precious moments have been tarnished by the abrasive rhetoric of Stephen A. Smith. His incessant yelling and push for divisive narratives has soured our enjoyment of the games, and we are not alone in feeling this way.

Many viewers, like ourselves, are tired of Smith's theatrics overshadowing the sport itself. Sports reporting is more than just loud speeches and wild conjectures; it's about representing the spirit of the game, the heart-stopping moments and the athletes who make them happen. But Smith rarely touches on these facets, leading us to question whether he even watches the games he comments on. We yearn for the days when ESPN focused on analyzing and reporting on sports.

We would like to point out that sports reporting has a significant impact on our understanding and enjoyment of the sport. According to a study published in the International Journal of Sport Communication, the quality of sports reporting can directly influence viewers' perception of the game (Weber, R., & Carini, R. M., 2012). We need commentators capable of delivering insightful and unbiased commentary, not ones who capitalize on chaos and division for sake of a show.

Because of the reasons detailed above, we call on ESPN to retire Stephen A. Smith and refocus on providing the comprehensive and thoughtful sport analysis and reporting us fans deserve. Please sign this petition to bring this urgent issue to the attention of ESPN management.