Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith were at their bombastic best this morning when they were debating the heart of Blake Griffin on ESPN’s “First Take. Bayless, ever the provocateur, called him “soft” and “overrated,” while Smith recounted Griffin’s meek play against the Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs.
“First Take” has long been a place of controversy as Smith and Bayless compete to see who can say more outlandish things about professional athletes and teams. A month ago, Chauncey Billups went on “First Take” and said that sometimes Griffin is “too nice.”
Griffin responded to ESPN today, telling them:
“I’ve never really worried about being called soft or people thinking I’m soft. If anybody wants to step and take that challenge I’m more than happy — off the court — because I don’t want to get suspended. It’s not something that I dwell on. I’ve never really had a problem with being soft.”
Is Blake Griffin soft? And if he is, what does he need to do to change that perception?
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