In a recent development, a Department of Defense official informed OutKick that the removal of a feature highlighting Jackie Robinson's military service was an inadvertent error.
However, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith remains skeptical, expressing doubt over the claim that "it was an honest mistake at all."
The original story had been taken down, and its new URL, which included the letters "DEI," led to a 404 error page. Fortunately, the article and its initial link were reinstated on Wednesday afternoon. According to Fox News, Smith addressed the issue on ESPN's "First Take," where he criticized the Trump administration for allegedly lacking transparency on "a few things." He suggested there has been "a concerted effort" to "scrub history."
Smith's critique extended to the broader implications of erasing the history of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. "It's not so much that you want to eradicate DEI programshow dare you try to ignore the reason for its existence in the first place?" he questioned.
Drawing parallels to civil rights legislation, affirmative action, and the Rooney Rule in the NFL, Smith emphasized the historical necessity of these measures due to systemic inequalities. "It was because of the iniquities of folks in the United States of America - primarily the White power structure that exists. It is a fact. It is known throughout history that it is a fact. They want to gloss over and erase the need for those things to take place to begin with," he asserted.
Smith further criticized the lack of accountability, stating, "nobody is calling out" Trump, but "I will." He extended an invitation to debate President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, challenging them to defend their stance. "President Trump, Im happy to sit down with you to have that conversation, sir. Id love for you to try to defend it. Vice President Vance, you too. Pete Hegseth, you too. Stephen A. Smith is calling you out on national television. Id love for you to sit down with the cameras rolling and try to defend this. Its ridiculous," Smith declared.
The article in question, "Sports Heroes Who Served: Baseball Great Jackie Robinson Was WWII Soldier," was initially published on February 9, 2021, by David Vergun. It is part of a series that also features other sports legends like Bob Feller, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Bob Uecker. Last month, the Pentagon announced a "digital content refresh" aimed at "removing and archiving DOD news articles, photos, and videos promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)."
Jackie Robinson, who was drafted into the military five years before breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, served as a second lieutenant during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1944. His legacy endures, with his number 42 retired across baseball in 1997, symbolizing his monumental impact on the sport and society.
Login