Ryan Clark crosses personal line, but RGIII’s response rises above hate after addressing LSU Tigers basketball legend Angel Reese’s beef with Caitlin Clark

Robert Griffin III went to X to post his thoughts after watching the same play we all have seen about WNBA superstar Caitlyn Clark’s hard foul on fellow WNBA arch nemesis Angel Reese. It inspired a strong response, but RGIII handled it like a champ.

But let’s run the context back from the top.

Moments before the aforementioned foul happened, Reese got away with a push off that ultimately led to her becoming wide open for a lay-up. Clark knew the play was to foul Angel before letting her get the open two points. Reese then fell and sparked a scuffle that was quickly quelled by teammates on both sides. Everyday rivalry, although Robert Griffin III saw more hatred in the eyes of Reese, as he said on X.

“After watching Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul on Angel Reese and the aftermath, there is no way Angel Reese can continue the lie that she doesn’t dislike Caitlin Clark. I know what hatred looks like. Angel Reese HATES Caitlin Clark. Not some basketball rivalry hate either. Hate,” Griffin said.

This isn’t a far-fetched thought when you watch the play in action. You can see a disdain between the two superstar athletes as Clark stares Reese down while she’s down on the floor, which potentially sparked Angel. 

Ex-Super Bowl-winning safety Ryan Clark had very hateful and distasteful words about the former second overall pick.

“The one thing we know about RGIII is he’s not having conversations at him home about what black women have to endure in this country, about what young black women and athletes like Angel Reese have had to deal with when the opposite side of Caitlyn Clark’s rise and ascension to stardom,” Cark said.

“Now when you look at it I think A’ja Wilson is the face of the league, A’ja Wilson is the best player in the league, Caitlyn Clark is the most important player in the WNBA, and a ton of her fandom has come along with some racial bias or some racial pieces to why people love her so much. 

“And so now, if you’re RGIII, when was the last time within your household you’ve had a conversation about what she’s dealing with. You haven’t been able to do that because in both of your marriages you’ve been married to white women. You haven’t had opportunities to have to conversations to educate you on what they’re feeling, what black women deal with, what they’re seeing when they think of a young Angel Reese and the whole time he’s mimicking Angel Reese and bobbing his neck and doing this whole piece, his wife is the back amening and clapping.” 

Clark continues to attack RGIII’s wife and family, crossing a personal line you do not cross in this industry. Even Fred Taylor looked uncomfortable with Ryan’s choice words, sitting in his chair, not making a reaction to what Clark was ranting about.

RGIII rose above the hate and posted a perfect response to Clark’s.

“There’s a line you don’t cross in life and Ryan Clark sprinted past it,” Griffin said.

“Ryan Clark didn’t like my take on Angel Reese hating Caitlin Clark. That’s fine. Disagreement is part of the game. But instead of debating my point, he personally attacked me and my family. That shows how low of person he is.

“I gave a sports opinion: I said Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark, based on repeated, visible actions on the court and in press conferences. I backed it up with five separate examples from the game of basketball because that’s what I do. I analyze sports. I stay in the arena.

“Just because Angel Reese is Black doesn’t mean that her game and actions can not be critiqued.

“A Black man or woman is not restricted from giving a sports opinion on another Black man or woman just because you don’t like it. 

“Everyone can give their opinion on everyone no matter what color they are.

“We’ve got to be better in this space. Debate the game. Don’t play with people’s families. Because if you need to cross that line and attack the person and their family instead of the point just to win an argument, then you already lost.

“Ryan Clark said I don’t understand the struggles of Black women because I’m married to a white woman. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.

“He suggested I don’t value my wife as the woman I love, protect and raise a family with but only value her because of the color of her skin. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.

“He implied that he, a man who has never sat at our dinner table, values my wife and knows my marriage better than I do. That’s wrong and way out of bounds. 

“He dismissed my Blackness because I have a different opinion about Angel Reese than he does. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.

“He claimed that I’m not having conversations about the struggles of Black women in my own home because my wife is white. That’s wrong and way out of bounds.

“We also raise Black daughters together and don’t teach them to hate people or disqualify their opinions based on the color of their skin.

“He claimed that I want to appeal to a certain audience. The only audience I’m focused on is the audience of one, God. I support all people, not some people. 

“My support is not based on the color of someone’s skin, but the content of their character. 

“My sports opinions are not based on the color of someone’s skin, but from what I see and my experience as a player and analyst.

“Let me be clear. It is wildly inappropriate, wrong and extremely low to weaponize and attack a person’s wife, marriage and their family because you disagree with a sports take.

“I didn’t make it personal with Angel Reese. I didn’t drag her family. I didn’t question her soul. I spoke about basketball.

“But Ryan? You crossed the line. You made it personal and some.

“There should be no space in Sports Media for personal attacks and wives and children are alway off limits. You attacked me and my family in a public forum on a level that shows how low of a person you are.

“Disagree with me all you want. Challenge my take. But keep my family and wife out of it. That’s a boundary that should always be respected.

“Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is cowardly, spineless, and weak.

“Ryan Clark personally attacking me and my family personally over a sports opinion is a bad look for ESPN and for him as a man.”

A powerful response from someone who has had nothing but respect and grace for the sporting news world.

Never stooping to low-blows and cheap headline tactics, RGIII has always kept it professional and tasteful. Maybe Ryan can learn a thing or two from Robert’s words and do better in the future.