Stephen A. Smith Q-and-A Part 1: Looking at things "in a new perspective"

Following up on today's Daily News column on Stephen A. Smith, we present a wide-range Q-and-A with the polarizing ESPN TV and radio personality with the first of seven blog entries:

==On what it's like getting work done in L.A. this week:

"I’m an East Coast guy. When you think about it, New York City is truely a city that never sleeps. One of my favorite routes to take in Manahattan coming from Queens or Harlem is driving into midtown and taking this turn and coming down 7th Avenue toward Times Square, the lights are everywhere. It’s a big city, keeps you awake. The only thing that can replace that is warm weather, sunshine and palm trees. See what I mean? When I think about L.A., coming here to cover the NBA for so many years, so many friends, some high school buddies out here that I hadn’t seen for 15 years who couldn’t believe they saw me on ESPN ... and the Lakers are the Lakers, growing up admiring Showtime with Magic Johnson. So L.A. is just a different feel and just as exciting. And I’m jealous of it. Everyone here is a little less stressed.

"I do think folks out West are a bit more laid back than the hustle and bustle of the East Coast. ... That’s just how it is. And I grew up in that kind of environment so I’m accustomed to it.

"I just turned 40 and now I look at things with a new perspective. I think about people less stressed, they seem more relaxed, and if you have a get-up and go about yourself, you can capitalize on that in this kind of environment. You’ll make it happen because it’s in your nature but you’re not going to forcefeed matters (like being) on the East Coast because things aren’t that pressurized. That adds to the level of enjoyment. Don’t care if it’s the women, or just individuals, people just feel less stressed."

==On whether less stressed people react better to consuming sports information rather than the harsh pace of East Coast sports fans:

"There’s a reason most people wouldn’t appreciate, but I do as a newspaper guy, that’s my foundation. We’re three hours ahead. We have to know things faster. We can’t sit back and take it in and then come out eloquting an opinion. When I go cover a game, I’m on deadline. It exists on the West Coast, but being three hours ahead, it’s our job to get the information out quicker. So it puts you in a luxurious position to be able to step back here and listen to a pouporie of thoughs and opinions beause you have more time. And that helps."