Stephen A. starts backtracking

On Monday, Stephen A. Smith of...not really sure what he's of these days...reported on his radio show and Twitter page that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had decided to join forces in Miami.

Now that all indications are that he was wrong, Stephen A. has started backtracking, using the "they changed their minds!" defense for his incorrect scoop. He's spent most of the morning posting this same drivel on his Twitter page, explaining how his scoop was right but things change, get in the way, blah blah blah. Which, of course is true, but is also why it was idiotic of him to report such a thing four days before the free agency period began.

Sure, they may have been interested in joining forces but to report it so matter-of-factly as Stephen A. did (and always does) so far in advance essentially set him up to fail. Of course things could get in the way. Of course there was a good chance there would be a "monkey wrench" thrown into things, as Stephen A. currently is saying. By attempting to be the first one to break the news as opposed to waiting it out to get it right, or even tempering his words a little bit ("the big three met last night and are definitely on board to try and join forces in Miami, it may not happen but they're interested in it"), Stephen A. is in the process of making himself look even more foolish than he always does and making ESPN look even better for getting rid of him and instead relying on the likes of Marc Stein, Chad Ford, Ric Bucher, Chris Broussard, Chris Sheridan and J.A. Adande, all of whom have proven themselves as more reliable sources of information than Stephen A.

Plus, he's opened himself up to ridicule from all, such as this Tweet from Bill Simmons: "Stephen A. Smith is reporting that Stephen A. Smith's report was incorrect."

The funniest outcome, of course, would be if LeBron, Wade and Bosh do join forces in Miami so that Stephen A. can report that his report of his report being incorrect is incorrect.