Stephen A. Smith is known for his passion, his fire, and his unapologetic honesty. But on a somber Thursday afternoon, listeners tuning in to SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio were greeted not by the familiar, electric energy—but by a voice weighed down with grief and gravity.

It was a different Stephen A. Smith. One not just ready to talk sports, but to confront the heartbreak and confusion gripping the nation after the shocking death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

A Tragedy That Transcends Politics

Normally, Smith’s show launches with thunder—breaking down the latest NBA drama, previewing the big Thursday night football matchup, or hyping up a fight in Vegas. But this day, the sports headlines took a back seat. Smith was candid: “If I sound a little bit, if not a lot…different, you can use the word melancholy. You can use the word sad or whatever. It’s because I’m not in that kind of mood today.”

The reason was clear. The shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University wasn’t just another news story—it was a horrifying, deeply personal moment that shook Smith to his core. Kirk, a right-wing conservative host, was gunned down from 200 yards away during a public event. Blood, chaos, and tragedy unfolded in front of thousands—including Kirk’s wife and two young children.

Smith didn’t mince words. “He had two children, both younger than five years of age. Both were in attendance and saw their father get gunned down. He had a wife, their mother, who saw her husband get gunned down.” The emotion in Smith’s voice was raw, unfiltered, and heartbreakingly authentic.

Beyond Politics: A Call for Humanity

What made Smith’s monologue so powerful was his refusal to let politics cloud the tragedy. “I don’t care what his political beliefs were. I don’t care what he felt. I care about the fact that a man was gunned down in front of two of his children…That his wife is a widow. That his children are fatherless.”

Smith’s message was clear: violence, hatred, and division have no place in America. He reminded listeners that, at our core, we are all human beings—“God’s children”—and that the true value of sports is in its power to unite us, regardless of background, belief, or color.

The Role of Sports in Healing

As the show continued, Smith shifted toward the world of sports—not as a distraction, but as a source of hope and unity. “Sports is supposed to be a reprieve, something that pulls you away from life’s travails and what truly, truly ails us all.”

He painted a vivid picture of the upcoming Thursday night NFL game at Lambeau Field. “You had better believe 60,000 plus are going to be at that stadium. You had better believe that millions are going to be watching. You had better believe…you’re going to see people talking about the game.”

For Smith, sports are more than just games—they’re a common ground, a multibillion-dollar industry built on joy, camaraderie, and shared experience. “It reminds us all how we can truly get along…the vitriol and the evil and the viciousness that exists in this world, it ain’t the many, it’s the few.”

A Plea for Decency and Love

Smith’s plea was simple but profound: “We got to collectively come together and understand that the world that we’re witnessing…is pretty damn messed up. And there’s a lot more love and a lot more brotherhood and sisterhood and humanity that goes on in this world…Yet the few who are evil amongst us are the ones that screech and make the most noise.”

He called on listeners to reject the celebration of violence and hate, to refuse to let the “few” dominate the narrative. “I’m a black man born in America. I know what problems that exist in this country. But I also know there’s far more good people than there are bad people in this country. Regardless of who you are, what your ethnic background is.”

Smith’s experience—his connection with fans of all backgrounds, his pride in his colleagues at Mad Dog Sports Radio—served as a testament to the power of unity. “I’m in a studio here in Las Vegas, and I’m looking outside and I see people looking at me and smiling and saying, ‘What’s up, Stephen?’ and they don’t look anything like me. And I don’t care, ‘cause they’re showing me love and I’m showing love right back to them.”

Remembering What Matters

Smith urged listeners not to let the tragedy fade into the background. “We’re going to give lip service to the tragedy of the moment and then within 24 hours we move on with our lives like nothing happened. Something did happen.”

He applauded the New York Yankees for holding a moment of silence, and called for accountability: “I hope the FBI and law enforcement catch this individual and do what needs to be done with him, whatever that may be.”

But above all, Smith asked fans to remember their humanity. “When I’m on Mad Dog Sports Radio to talk sports, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. But make no mistake about it when I say that I’m a conscientious observer, that I’m an American citizen, that I’m just somebody who cares, and I’m somebody who believes in and tries to promote the importance of having a core decency attached to every one of us as human beings.”

Sports: The Great Unifier

As the show returned to sports, Smith reminded listeners why these games matter so much. “Sports does so much for us. It doesn’t just give us something to cheer about. It’s the fact that it allows us to cheer together.”

Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or boxing, the stadiums and arenas are filled with fans of every background, united by their love of the game. “You’re going to see Green Bay fans at Lambeau Field tonight in all color, shapes, and sizes…And the NBA season comes, you’re going to see that, too.”

Smith’s closing words were a rallying cry for compassion, unity, and hope. “At some point in time, we got to remember that and remember to remind one another that there’s far more love in this world than hate. And not allow evil and hate to dominate us and to strip us of what truly makes us the greatest nation in the world.”

Final Thoughts

Stephen A. Smith’s heartfelt response to the death of Charlie Kirk is a reminder that sports—and humanity—matter more than ever. In a world too often divided by hate and violence, Smith’s voice calls us back to what truly matters: love, decency, and the power of coming together.

As the games go on, let’s remember the lessons of this moment. Sports can heal, unite, and inspire. And sometimes, it’s the voice behind the microphone that reminds us how to be better—on and off the field.