ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith returned to First Take on Monday after a recent bout with COVID-19, which he said led to a stay in a hospital.
Smith publicly announced his positive COVID-19 test result on Dec. 21, saying he had mild symptoms. However, Smith said this past Monday he wound up in the hospital over New Year's Eve due to the virus.
”[Doctors] told me, had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn't be here. That's how bad I was," Smith said. "I had pneumonia in both lungs. My liver was bad, and it ravaged me to the point where even now I have to monitor my volume, get to the gym every day.