Hugh Douglas opens up about ESPN firing; says he wasn't drunk
Douglas claims he only threatened Smith with physical violence.
Former Eagle Hugh Douglas was on the inaugural Cheap Shots, a new radio show from former Eagles tight end Luther Broughton and co-host Micah Warren. Among other things, they discussed the incident that led to Douglas' firing from ESPN in August last year. Listen to the episode here.
Douglas allegedly called his "Numbers Never Lie" co-host Michael Smith an "Uncle Tom" and other racially-charged epithets at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Orlando.
Douglas told Broughton that he was not drunk during the incident, "yet it was certainly a party atmosphere."
He admitted there was a confrontation between Smith and himself after Douglas tried to get onstage with Smith and "Numbers Never Lie" co-host Jemele Hill.
Douglas told Broughton and Warren:
[Smith] says 'Don't you ever effing do that again.' And so I looked at him and I'm like 'Mike what's the matter?' And he walks away, so I walked behind him. And I'm like 'Dude, what's going on?' So, he stopped and he's talking to this young lady. So I walk up to Michael and I whisper in his ear. I said 'Mike, don't you ever talk to me like that again, because I will beat your M F'ing A.' Just like that.
Douglas continued that he returned to Connecticut hoping to smooth things over with Smith the next day when his agent called him and relayed Smith's version of events.
Despite claiming that Smith lied in order to get off of his show, Douglas told Broughton and Warren he's not angry with Smith:
Mike is a different cat. You know, I had a lot of respect for him, but when he did that. . . I mean I'm not mad because I didn't see it coming. You know how they say you're supposed to be able to identify snakes? Didn't see that one coming. That one's on me. I thought our relationship was more than what it was. You know, I thought we were cool, bottom line. But, we weren't, so.
This was not the end of public troubles for Douglas. In September of last year, Douglas was arrested for allegedly assaulting girlfriend Hope Davila. Douglas pleaded no contest to misdemeanor breach of peace, and served no jail time. In May, Davila sued Douglas for the assault.