Listen free for 30 days
-
Straight Shooter
- A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes
- Narrated by: Stephen A. Smith
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $24.27
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE
America’s most popular sports media figure tells it like it is in this “raw, deeply authentic, and immensely entertaining” (Bob Iger, #1 New York Times bestselling author and CEO of The Walt Disney Company) book, not only dishing out his signature, uninhibited opinions but also revealing the challenges he overcame in childhood as well as at ESPN.
Stephen A. Smith has never been handed anything, nor was he an overnight success. Growing up poor in Queens, the son of Caribbean immigrants and the youngest of six children, he was a sports-obsessed kid who faced struggles, from undiagnosed dyslexia to getting enough cereal to fill his bowl. As a basketball player at Winston-Salem State University, he got a glimmer of his true calling when he wrote a newspaper column arguing for the retirement of his own Hall of Fame coach, Clarence Gaines.
Smith hustled and rose up from a reporter on the high school beat at Daily News (New York) to a general sports columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer before getting his own show at ESPN in 2005. After he was unceremoniously fired from the network in 2009, he became even more determined to fight for success. He got himself rehired two years later and, with his razor-sharp intelligence and fearless debate style, found the show he was destined to star in: First Take, the network’s flagship morning program.
In Straight Shooter, Smith writes about the greatest highs and deepest lows of his life and career. He gives his thoughts on Skip Bayless, Ray Rice, Colin Kaepernick, the New York Knicks, the Dallas Cowboys, and former President Donald Trump. But he also pulls back the curtain and talks about life beyond the set, sharing authentic stories about his negligent father, his loving mother, being a father himself, his battle with life-threatening COVID-19, and what he really thinks about politics and social issues. He does it all with the same intelligence, humor, and charm that has made him a household name.
A provocative and moving “blueprint of tenacity” (Fat Joe), this book is the perfect gift for lovers of sports, television, and anyone who likes their stories delivered straight to the heart.
You may also enjoy...
-
The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- Written by: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
-
-
Best Storyteller
- By Tamika Wilson on 2023-07-20
Written by: Fat Joe, and others
-
Talk of Champions
- Stories of the People Who Made Me: A Memoir
- Written by: Kenny Smith
- Narrated by: Kenny Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kenny Smith was a star at the University of North Carolina before his storied NBA run, in which he won two championships with the Houston Rockets. His popularity skyrocketed when he joined TNT’s new show, Inside the NBA, which has thrived for twenty-four years and won multiple Emmys, receiving enormous acclaim for the insight, humor, social commentary, and unrivaled basketball coverage from Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson, Jr. Kenny is known to fans for his laser-sharp analysis and eloquent observations of the basketball scene and culture.
-
-
Some great basketball stories
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-05-15
Written by: Kenny Smith
-
Black Privilege
- Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It
- Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlamagne Tha God - the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pissing People Off", co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, and "hip-hop's Howard Stern" - shares his unlikely success story as well as how embracing one's truths is a fundamental key to success and happiness.
-
-
Better than I expected!!!
- By Kenneth Forbes on 2018-11-15
Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
-
Adversity for Sale
- Ya Gotta Believe
- Written by: Jeezy
- Narrated by: Jay Jenkins
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To Jeezy’s legion of fans, his name is synonymous with hustle, grit, and the integrity to go out there and achieve your dreams. In his first book, Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe, Jeezy shares never heard stories of what it took for him to beat the odds and get out of the streets, his mindset he carefully honed to get an edge, and the lessons that changed his life and business.
-
-
Street smart and grit at its finest.
- By Rosie Fox on 2024-11-16
Written by: Jeezy
-
Lucky Me
- A Memoir of Changing the Odds
- Written by: Rich Paul, Jesse Washington - contributor, LeBron James - foreword
- Narrated by: Rich Paul, Dennis Logan
- Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a story about Rich Paul that everyone knows: A twenty-one-year-old kid from Cleveland who sells sports jerseys out of his car meets a high school basketball phenom named LeBron James at an airport—the two become friends and forge a decades-long partnership that reinvents the business of sports. That random meeting might seem like the lucky break that changed Paul’s life. But a moment of good fortune means nothing without the struggle that gets you there. And the truth is, Paul had always been lucky.
-
-
10/10 - The Realest
- By Bwanka on 2024-08-27
Written by: Rich Paul, and others
-
Game
- An Autobiography
- Written by: Grant Hill
- Narrated by: Grant Hill
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grant Hill always had game. His choice of college was a subject of national interest, and his arrival at Duke University cemented the program’s arrival at the top. In his freshman year, he led the team to its first NCAA championship, and three championship appearances in four years. His Duke career produced some of the most iconic moments in college basketball history, and Coach K proved to be a lifelong mentor.
Written by: Grant Hill
-
The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- Written by: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
-
-
Best Storyteller
- By Tamika Wilson on 2023-07-20
Written by: Fat Joe, and others
-
Talk of Champions
- Stories of the People Who Made Me: A Memoir
- Written by: Kenny Smith
- Narrated by: Kenny Smith
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kenny Smith was a star at the University of North Carolina before his storied NBA run, in which he won two championships with the Houston Rockets. His popularity skyrocketed when he joined TNT’s new show, Inside the NBA, which has thrived for twenty-four years and won multiple Emmys, receiving enormous acclaim for the insight, humor, social commentary, and unrivaled basketball coverage from Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson, Jr. Kenny is known to fans for his laser-sharp analysis and eloquent observations of the basketball scene and culture.
-
-
Some great basketball stories
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-05-15
Written by: Kenny Smith
-
Black Privilege
- Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It
- Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Charlamagne Tha God - the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pissing People Off", co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, and "hip-hop's Howard Stern" - shares his unlikely success story as well as how embracing one's truths is a fundamental key to success and happiness.
-
-
Better than I expected!!!
- By Kenneth Forbes on 2018-11-15
Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
-
Adversity for Sale
- Ya Gotta Believe
- Written by: Jeezy
- Narrated by: Jay Jenkins
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To Jeezy’s legion of fans, his name is synonymous with hustle, grit, and the integrity to go out there and achieve your dreams. In his first book, Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe, Jeezy shares never heard stories of what it took for him to beat the odds and get out of the streets, his mindset he carefully honed to get an edge, and the lessons that changed his life and business.
-
-
Street smart and grit at its finest.
- By Rosie Fox on 2024-11-16
Written by: Jeezy
-
Lucky Me
- A Memoir of Changing the Odds
- Written by: Rich Paul, Jesse Washington - contributor, LeBron James - foreword
- Narrated by: Rich Paul, Dennis Logan
- Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There’s a story about Rich Paul that everyone knows: A twenty-one-year-old kid from Cleveland who sells sports jerseys out of his car meets a high school basketball phenom named LeBron James at an airport—the two become friends and forge a decades-long partnership that reinvents the business of sports. That random meeting might seem like the lucky break that changed Paul’s life. But a moment of good fortune means nothing without the struggle that gets you there. And the truth is, Paul had always been lucky.
-
-
10/10 - The Realest
- By Bwanka on 2024-08-27
Written by: Rich Paul, and others
-
Game
- An Autobiography
- Written by: Grant Hill
- Narrated by: Grant Hill
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grant Hill always had game. His choice of college was a subject of national interest, and his arrival at Duke University cemented the program’s arrival at the top. In his freshman year, he led the team to its first NCAA championship, and three championship appearances in four years. His Duke career produced some of the most iconic moments in college basketball history, and Coach K proved to be a lifelong mentor.
Written by: Grant Hill
-
Shook One
- Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me
- Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Being “shook” is more than a rap lyric for Charlamagne; it’s his mission to overcome. While it may seem like he is ahead of the game and should have nothing to worry about, he is still plagued by anxieties - fear of being weak; fear of being a bad dad; fear of being a worse husband; and, ultimately, fear of failure. Shook One chronicles his journey to beat back those fears and empowers you to no longer be held back from your potential.
-
-
Weak
- By Kindle Customer on 2018-11-10
Written by: Charlamagne Tha God
-
LeBron
- Written by: Jeff Benedict
- Narrated by: Chris Jackson
- Length: 17 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of the twenty-first century, and he’s in the conversation with Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. The reigning king of the game and the first active NBA player to become a billionaire, LeBron wears the crown like he was born with it. Yet his ascent has been anything but effortless and predetermined—the truth is vastly more interesting than that. LeBron tells the full, riveting saga of how a child adrift found the will to become a titan. Jeff Benedict paints a vivid picture of LeBron’s epic origin story, showing the gradual rise of a star.
-
-
For a 17+ hour book, I was expecting more
- By Marko Dj on 2023-06-26
Written by: Jeff Benedict
-
Unguarded
- Written by: Scottie Pippen, Michael Arkush
- Narrated by: JD Jackson
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scottie Pippen has been called one of the greatest NBA players for good reason. Simply put, without Pippen, there are no championship banners - let alone six - hanging from the United Center rafters. There’s no Last Dance documentary. There’s no “Michael Jordan” as we know him. The 1990s Chicago Bulls teams would not exist as we know them. So how did the youngest of 12 go from growing up poor in the small town of Hamburg, Arkansas, enduring two family tragedies along the way, to become a revered NBA legend?
-
-
heros for those of us growing up in the 90s
- By Morgan on 2022-06-28
Written by: Scottie Pippen, and others
-
You Owe You
- Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why
- Written by: Eric Thomas PhD, Chris Paul - foreword
- Narrated by: Eric Thomas PhD, Cary Hite
- Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you feel like success is for others, that only certain people get to have their dreams fulfilled, Eric Thomas’s You Owe You is your wake-up call. His urgent message to stop waiting for inspiration to strike and take control of your life is one he wishes someone had given him when he was a teenager—lost, homeless, failing in school, and dealing with the challenges of being a young Black man in America.
-
-
Great!
- By Roxanne on 2023-11-07
Written by: Eric Thomas PhD, and others
-
Never Give an Inch
- Fighting for the America I Love
- Written by: Mike Pompeo
- Narrated by: Rick Adamson
- Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Complete with a road map of the trends and players shaping the world today, Never Give an Inch is more than a historical review of the Trump Administration's greatest victories. It is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the challenges of the future. And it is an inspirational story of leadership through dangerous times that will leave you with a greater appreciation for America.
-
-
Amazing book!
- By Ramin on 2023-04-18
Written by: Mike Pompeo
-
Sixty-One
- Life Lessons from Papa, on and off the Court
- Written by: Chris Paul, Michael Wilbon - contributor
- Narrated by: Chris Paul
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The day after future NBA superstar Chris Paul signed his letter of intent to play college basketball for Wake Forest, he received a world-shattering phone call. His grandfather, Nathaniel "Papa" Jones, a pillar of the Winston-Salem community where he owned and operated the first Black-owned service station in North Carolina, was mugged and ultimately died from a heart attack resulting from the assault. His funeral filled the largest church in the county, which held over 1,000 people. He was 61 years old.
Written by: Chris Paul, and others
-
Act Like You Got Some Sense
- And Other Things My Daughters Taught Me
- Written by: Jamie Foxx
- Narrated by: Jamie Foxx, Corinne Foxx
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jamie Foxx has won an Academy Award and a Grammy Award, laughed with sitting presidents, and partied with the biggest names in hip-hop. In Act Like You Got Some Sense, Jamie shares up close and personal stories about the tough love and old-school values he learned growing up in the small town of Terrell, Texas; his early days trying to make it in Hollywood; the joys and challenges of achieving stardom; and how each phase of his life shaped his parenting journey. Hilarious, poignant, and always brutally honest, this is Jamie Foxx like we’ve never seen him before.
-
-
Brilliantly Done
- By James Clark on 2023-11-01
Written by: Jamie Foxx
-
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter
- Written by: Curtis 50 Cent Jackson
- Narrated by: Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his early 20s, Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, rose to the heights of fame and power in the cutthroat music business. A decade ago, the multi-platinum selling rap artist decided to pivot. His ability to adapt to change was demonstrated when he became the executive producer and star of Power, a high-octane, gripping crime drama centered around a drug kingpin's family. The series quickly became "appointment" television, leading to Jackson inking a four-year, $150 million contract with the Starz network - the most lucrative deal in premium cable history.
-
-
An unexpectedly, electrifyingly entertaining book
- By Anonymous User on 2020-07-11
Written by: Curtis 50 Cent Jackson
-
The Last Enforcer
- Outrageous Stories from the Life and Times of One of the NBA's Fiercest Competitors
- Written by: Charles Oakley, Frank Isola
- Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White
- Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you ask a New York Knicks fan about Charles Oakley, you better prepare to hear the love and a favorite story or two. But his individual stats weren’t remarkable, and while he helped power the Knicks to 10 consecutive playoffs, he never won a championship. So why does he hold such a special place in the minds, hearts, and memories of NBA players and fans?
-
-
King of New York
- By Mel C on 2022-04-01
Written by: Charles Oakley, and others
-
The Love Stories of the Bible Speak
- Biblical Lessons on Romance, Friendship, and Faith
- Written by: Shannon Bream
- Narrated by: Shannon Bream
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Bible reveals not just butterflies and broken hearts. In Scripture, we see God’s beautiful design for the partnership of marriage. We witness friendships that cross all boundaries. We watch as families navigate the many seasons of life. Our guiding example for them all is the deepest, most abiding, foundational love ever known: God’s unconditional love for His people. In The Love Stories of the Bible Speak, Shannon Bream draws lessons from the good, the bad, and the ugly of Biblical romances, friendships, and families.
Written by: Shannon Bream
-
Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised
- Written by: Carmelo Anthony
- Narrated by: Carmelo Anthony
- Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For a long time, Carmelo Anthony’s world wasn’t any larger than the view of the hoopers and hustlers he watched from the side window of his family’s first-floor project apartment in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He couldn’t dream any bigger than emulating his older brothers and cousin, much less going on to become a basketball champion on the world stage.
-
-
Great!
- By Matt W. on 2022-02-01
Written by: Carmelo Anthony
-
Blood in the Garden
- The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks
- Written by: Chris Herring
- Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The definitive history of the 1990s New York Knicks, illustrating how Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason resurrected the iconic franchise through oppressive physicality and unmatched grit. Blood in the Garden is a portrait filled with eye-opening details that have never been shared before, revealing the full story of the franchise in the midst of the NBA’s golden era. And rest assured, no punches will be pulled. Which is just how those rough-and-tumble Knicks would like it.
-
-
Storytelling
- By Anonymous User on 2024-05-30
Written by: Chris Herring
What listeners say about Straight Shooter
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jordan
- 2023-12-28
Surprisingly good.
A very interesting story behind a very annoying human. I definitely would not have read this book, so the audiobook was very helpful.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- NP
- 2023-02-03
Mr. Straight Shooter at its finest!
What a Great book! Keep going Mr. Smith! You're not done yet! Make your momma proud!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christina
- 2023-04-12
Thank you for sharing!
Enjoyable, insightful and entertaining thank you for sharing your life with us, will start watching you on tv.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tashinga
- 2023-02-14
Well Narrated
A great story of the makings of one of present day’s sports media icons. Smith does a great job of elevating his story through a very engaging narration of never before shared details on pivotal moments of his life and career.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Austin Luff
- 2023-01-21
Enlightening
I have to admit I knew little to nothing about Stephen going into this book and I have gained a ton of respect for him throughout. Great read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Air Jordan
- 2023-11-07
He’s a baaaaaad man!!
Stephen A Smith….you amaze me every day. Congratulations on your success!!! Big up yourself!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!