Former All-Pro defensive lineman Hugh Douglas has not appeared on ESPN’s “Numbers Never Lie” TV show this week in the wake of his alleged altercation with co-host Michael Smith. A report over the weekend indicated that Douglas and Smith nearly came to blows at a party in Orlando on Friday. New details indicate that Douglas was the aggressor.
According to Deadspin, the altercation on Friday was a continuation of an incident that occurred on Thursday, when Douglas and Smith attended a convention at Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel along with co-host Jemele Hill. Smith and Hill were reportedly speaking to prospective ESPN employees when Douglas, who was apparently intoxicated, approached them.
Douglas, who was described as “wasted” by Deadspin, has allegedly felt left out on “Numbers Never Lie” since Hill joined the show and he became the only non-journalist. As Hill was finishing her chat with around 100 people, Douglas came up and demanded the microphone. Hill made an effort to keep it away from him, which allegedly angered Douglas and embarrassed Smith and Hill.
The tension apparently rolled over into the next evening at the House of Blues, when Douglas was again described as “very drunk.” He reportedly tried to head for the stage at House of Blues when Smith stopped him and told him it would be a mistake. Not wanting to be told what to do, Douglas became angry and got into it with Smith. He also allegedly called him an “Uncle Tom.”
Deadspin’s sources claim Smith tried to ignore Douglas but that Douglas kept berating him, even grabbing him by the arm at one point and threatening to beat him up. Security had to step in and separate the two.
ESPN is currently looking into the matter. If the details laid out by The Big Lead and Deadspin are accurate, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Douglas ends up losing his job.
