ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Stephen A. Smith was caught running to the set of 'First Take'

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 11/29/22

We've all run late to work before. It's perhaps one of the most universal anxieties we share as adults from culture to culture.

Sometimes, as was apparently the case for ESPN personality and hot-take artist Stephen A. Smith, running late for work means that you're literally running to work.

If it's hard to believe that Smith may have to jog to work from time to time like a normal person who's fretting about the clock, let's rejoice together that the camera caught this momentous event.

NYC traffic caught up to @stephenasmith

He was late to the show and was spotted RUNNING into the studio pic.twitter.com/P6BO8nFAna
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 29, 2022

That's right folks, Smith was running late, and just like the rest of us normal schlubs, he blamed traffic when he was called out for it.

"I'm done with New York. I was parked. I mean literally parked on the westside highway," Smith complained. "I got a crib 15 minutes from here. I left at 8:45 (for a 10 a.m. show). This is ridiculous."

Keyshawn Johnson, being the former NFL player that he is, chided Smith and said that the bombastic personality should have left home earlier. Perhaps ... at 7:30 a.m.

"I knew you would say that. I ain't leaving at no damn 7:30 for a 10 o'clock show when I live 15 minutes away. It ain't happening," Smith responded. "By the way, the traffic is so damn bad I still probably would have been late if I left at 7:30. This is ridiculous."

What a relatable exchange, though what's not relatable is having a security guard carry your bag into the office for you. That, and having your company tweet out the hilarious video of you being late.

Most of us don't get that kind of treatment. Then again, most of us aren't Stephen A.

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