Stephen A. Smith goes all Tony Soprano on Kevin Durant (VIDEO)

When Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant strongly denied a Stephen A. Smith report that he was considering a move to the Los Angeles Lakers, tensions between the two heated up over the weekend. And Smith fired back on Monday morning, telling Durant “you don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

In a somewhat fascinating segment on ESPN First Take, Smith hijacked the desk from co-host Skip Bayless and told Durant, “You don’t want to make an enemy out of me. And I am looking right at the camera.”

pic.twitter.com/nllOb5G5Fq

— Paid Wade (@Joshmaniii) October 5, 2015

While it seemed more like a Sopranos audition tape than sports journalism, this sort of behavior has become sort of the norm for Smith — who tweeted he would he would continue later:

I will respond to @KDTrey5 on @FirstTake right now!!! Then later too, on my radio show. Like I've said repeatedly, I HIDE FROM NO-DAMN-BODY!

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 5, 2015

Durant responded to Smith's original story at the time: “I don’t talk to Stephen A Smith at all. Nobody in my family, my friends, they don’t talk to Stephen A Smith. So he’s lying.”

Smith specified that he never spoke to any of those people in Durant's circle.

But the habit of sports reporters becoming part of the story is getting tiresome. Although Smith did make a point to say that if he was lying in his initial report about Durant going to the Lakers, Durant should sign a long-term deal with Oklahoma City to prove him wrong, his street corner threat doesn't cut it.

Whether or not it is appropriate for journalists and professional athletes to battle in public is one thing, but Smith is in no position to tell Durant what to do with his life in order to prove a point.

Here's Smith's full rant:

ESPN suspends Max Kellerman over domestic abuse remarks: Report

ESPN has reportedly suspended boxing commentator and radio host Max Kellerman from the network following a conversation he had on ESPN-LA Radio, reports the New York Daily News.

On the "Mason & Ireland " show, which leads into his afternoon-drive program, Kellerman admitted to hitting his girlfriend many years ago.

ESPN would neither confirm nor deny Kellerman's suspension. In a statement issued Friday afternoon and ESPN spokesman said: "Max Kellerman will return to ESPN-LA Radio and 'SportsNation' on Thursday." 

The startling admission occurred as Kellerman related a story about his then-girlfriend, now wife Erin Kellerman.

According the the Daily News, he said that the pair were at a college party and both had too much to drink.

The situation escalated and his girlfriend hit him. He hit her back, he said, but the incident was a one-time incident and they have been happily married for 20 years.

Kellerman's admission of having hit a woman was reportedly called "inappropriate" by ESPN and his suspension comes just days after Stephen A. Smith was suspended for comments he made while discussing the Ray Rice domestic abuse case during the "First Take" morning show.. 

According to the Daily News, the reason for Kellerman's suspension is for discussing the Rice situation, which is extremely touchy subject after Smith's recent boondoggle.

Smith condemned domestic violence but advised women not to "provoke" men to it.

"Let's make sure we don’t do anything to provoke wrong actions," he said, presumably to his female viewers.

Smith later apologized.

Joe Montana picks Luck over RG3 in the long run

Joe was on ESPN's "First Take" to promote the new Madden 13 game when the round table discussion inevitably came around to co-host Skip Bayless asking the four-time Super Bowl winner which rookie he would pick to have more long-term success as an NFL quarterback — Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III.

Montana  tried to dodge the question before a nagging Bayless said, "Close your eyes and pick."

The former San Francisco 49ers great shook his head and finally answered, "Luck.  Because he's more of a pro-style guy."

Joe Cool also said RG3 has a lot of upside, but warned him that a quarterback "learns how to slide."

"Guys like RG3 start running and get hit," said Montana.  "He's a big guy, dang, [but] you can't take a hit like a fullback."



The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins met over the weekend, in what was called just another preseason game, but was really a showcase for the top two quarterbacks in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Both signal-callers lived up to the hype and played to a virtual tie — even though the Redskins won the game 30-17.

Griffin III finished going 11-for-17 for 74 yards and a TD while Luck — the man he will be compared to for the next decade or so — completed 14 of 23 throws for 151 yards and a TD.

It's easy to see why Montana hemmed-and-hawed when he was put on the spot. It looks like both players could be headed for long and successful NFL careers.

Ticked-off Jeter says ESPN's Bayless 'should be tested'

New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter brushed off sports commentator Skip Bayless' suggestion that  human growth hormone was behind the shortstop's noticeably pumped-up stats this season.  On the ESPN show "First Take," Bayless— the resident antagonist— said Jeter's performance at age 38 merits suspicion of him "using something."

Said Bayless: "How could I not wonder, is he using something?"

Responded Jeter: "Maybe Skip should be tested?"

On the show, Bayless later tempered his remarks about the future Hall of Famer.

"I'm not saying he uses a thing," Bayless said.  "I have no idea."

Jeter is batting .324 with a major league high 168 hits.  He homered for the third straight game last night against the Chicago White Sox— giving him 13 for the season.  It's Jeter's highest total since he hit 18 in 2009.  He's batting .381 (45-for-118) over his last 27 games.

Asked if he was bothered by his name being linked to PED's, Jeter said," It's a first for me, man.  I don't know what to tell you."

Bayless might be talking through his hat but, by living and playing in New York, Jeter has heard and seen all kinds of rumors come and go.  But still, the recent suspensions of former Yankees Bartolo Colon and Melky Cabrera do cast a doubts about the use of PEDs throughout the majors.

"Now you have everybody questioning everything," said Jeter.  "That's the unfortunate thing."