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Put a fork in it. The possibility of a Stephen A. Smith–Skip TV reunion is done, Smith has declared himself. He read the last rites over his former TV partnership with Bayless during the newest episode of his eponymous podcast/YouTube show on Friday night.
Smith personally confirmed a Front Office Sports story from Tuesday, when an ESPN spokesman firmly shut the door on the chances of Bayless returning as a guest debater to First Take. “We are set with the current First Take rotation, and wish Skip the best on his future endeavors,” the spokesman told FOS. Currently, Fox Sports is negotiating to buy out Bayless’s $8 million annual contract with FS1, according to the New York Post, with his final appearance on his Undisputed weekday morning show expected this summer.
Smith said he was not aware ESPN was going to issue the statement on Bayless, who became one of the network’s biggest stars throughout 12 years before jumping to FS1 in 2016. But under a chyron reading, “Stephen A: Skip and I are finished as a TV tandem,” Smith said it wouldn’t be fair to First Take colleagues like Bayless’ former on-partner Shannon Sharpe to force-feed Bayless back into the show’s rotation.
As Smith said on the Friday show: “I’m not going to front, y’all. I wouldn’t do that to my man Shannon Sharpe either. That’s right, I said it.”
Yes, Smith still loves and respects Bayless, who plucked him from the radio wilderness to become his First Take co-host in 2012. But now that he’s confirmed the ESPN’s spokesman’s final verdict on Bayless, the conversation is done.
“Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, together as partners, working across from each other on a debate show, is over. It’s been over,” Smith said. “This is not the first time I’ve said it. There’s no negativity or shade being shown at Skip Bayless. I have moved on.”
The 56-year-old Smith has kicked off negotiations on a possible contract extension with ESPN that could pay him $20 million to $25 million. Meanwhile, the 73-year-old Bayless is likely to find a tough job market as sports media transitions away from hot take artists like the former enfant terrible of morning sports TV.
Michael McCarthy’s “Tuned In” column is at your fingertips every week with the latest insights and ongoings around sports media. If he hears it, you will, too.
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