The following item, penned by Dan Gross, appeared in Wednesday’s Philadelphia Daily News Gossip blog :

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith picked up some furniture at Raymour & Flanigan (2100 Route 38) in Cherry Hill earlier today and referred to himself in the third person while shopping, says a nearby customer. “Stephen would like the sofa that Stephen was just sitting in,” our source quotes Smith, who’s been off from the Inqwaster since his column was stripped in August. Smith, accompanied by “an attractive young female” was gracious to fans who approached, says our spy.

Yeah, sure thing, Dan. I can believe Stephen A. referred to himself in the third person. I can even believe said acclaimed journalist was in the company of a good looking lady-person.

But there’s no fucking way I can buy the notion of Smith being “approached by fans”. Not in Cherry Hill, Philadelphia or anywhere else.