Stephen A. Smith: Why isn’t he in newspapers anymore? His celebrity, of course. “When I walk the street or go to different places, my popularity speaks for itself. It interferes with the newspaper work. I go to games, and security is having to hold people back that want autographs when I’m trying to write a column on press row. I’m not accustomed to that. When you go through all of those things, you cannot do newspaper as effectively as you would like.” And Stephen A. didn’t rule out a return to ESPN. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I was back there someday in the very near future. I’m not ruling that out. I don’t think they’re ruling that out. We still keep in touch.” [Times Union]