When sports commentator Stephen A. Smith made headlines last week by claiming NASCAR drivers aren't "real athletes," he didn't expect to hear from the GOAT himself—Michael Jordan.

During a lively segment on his SiriusXM show "Mad Dog Sports Radio," Smith took a strong stance after a caller compared Richard Petty's longevity to LeBron James' NBA career. Smith quickly dismissed the comparison, arguing that NASCAR drivers "don't count" as athletes. The hot take spread like wildfire, drawing pushback from NASCAR announcer Mike Joy, Fox analyst Kevin Harvick, Front Row Motorsports, and three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano.

But the most notable rebuttal came straight from Michael Jordan. On Thursday, Smith revealed that Jordan personally called him to challenge the controversial opinion. "You know who wanted to correct me about the NASCAR thing? Michael Jordan," Smith said on his show. "I argued with him! Because that's how I feel! I'm being honest. That's what makes radio and sports talk."

Given that Jordan is both a legendary athlete and a NASCAR team co-owner (23XI Racing), his perspective carries serious weight. Smith acknowledged he doesn't know enough about the sport to truly understand the demands of being a full-time driver—but even Jordan's input hasn't changed his mind. "Don't you notice what we call the gang mentality?" Smith asked. "Where everybody in my line of work jumps on popular opinion so they are lumped in with the vast majority? That's easy. The hard part is: this is where I stand, and I genuinely feel this way."

For sports fans who respect the athleticism behind every sport, this debate highlights what makes competition so compelling—whether it's on the court, the green, or the track. At our store, we celebrate athletes at every level, from the hardwood to the asphalt.