Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Stephen A. Smith: NASCAR, Golf Not True Sports

4/22/2026

42 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Stephen A. Smith has intensified his stance, saying NASCAR drivers and professional golfers do not qualify as athletes.
In a SiriusXM segment, he argues that the ability to play into older age diminishes athletic status, even as he acknowledges skill.
He contends true athleticism requires significant physical demands, which he believes both sports lack, despite Tiger Woods's conditioning complicating the discussion.

History

Historical Context

Title IX, enacted on June 23, 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education, significantly increasing female athletic participation from 294,000 in 1972 to over 3 million by 2019. Despite this progress, challenges persist, including a decrease in women coaches and ongoing debates about gender equity in sports, as highlighted by Stephen A. Smith's recent comments on athleticism in NASCAR and golf.

1 of 2

Story summary

Stephen A. Smith has intensified his stance, saying NASCAR drivers and professional golfers do not qualify as athletes.
In a SiriusXM segment, he argues that the ability to play into older age diminishes athletic status, even as he acknowledges skill.
He contends true athleticism requires significant physical demands, which he believes both sports lack, despite Tiger Woods's conditioning complicating the discussion.

1 / 2