ESPN's Stephen A. Smith , Offers Apology, to Angels' Ohtani.br ESPN's Stephen A. Smith , Offers Apology, to Angels' Ohtani.br Smith previously said that Ohtani, br a Japanese-born Major League Baseball sensation, br could not be the face of the sport due to br his need for an interpreter.br Smith previously said that Ohtani, br a Japanese-born Major League Baseball sensation, br could not be the face of the sport due to br his need for an interpreter.br His commentsbr came the same day that br Ohtani became the first br Japanese-born player br to participate in MLB's br Home Run Derby.br Criticism was swift, and Smith initially doubled down on his comments by clarifying that he was "talking about the marketability and the promotion of the sport." .br Criticism was swift, and Smith initially doubled down on his comments by clarifying that he was "talking about the marketability and the promotion of the sport." .br This only br drew more criticism br on social media, and br then Smith apologized.br As an African-American, br keenly aware of the damage br stereotyping has done to br many in this country, it br should've elevated my br sensitivities even more, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.br I screwed up. In this day br and age, with all the violence br being perpetrated against the br Asian Community, my comments, br albeit unintentional, were clearly br insensitive and regrettable, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.br I’m sincerely sorry for br any angst I’ve caused br with my comments, Stephen A. Smith, via ESPN.br Keith Olbermann, br a former ESPN br commentator, br called for Smith br to be suspended.br Olbermann said that Smith's br comments came at a particularlybr dangerous time of heightened br anti-Asian violence. .br Ohtani, a two-way Angels superstar, played professional Japanese baseball for several years before signing with the Angels in 2017.br Ohtani, a two-way Angels superstar, played professional Japanese baseball for several years before signing with the Angels in 2017.br In 2018, he was named br American League Rookie of the Year.