Rumors of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless reuniting have been swirling for several years now and the pair could have teamed up again in 2020 had FOX not offered the latter a bumper deal.
Smith and Bayless are unquestionably the most popular voices in the sports analysis arena and they both have each other to thank for their fame, having worked together on ESPN’s First Take before Skip left.
The controversial journo is now sitting across from Shannon Sharpe for FS1.
Smith is pretty controversial himself and, while lots of their takes are odd, they move the needle and are staples for their respective networks.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, ESPN and FOX could soon rue the loss of the two powerful voices as they have held talks about reuniting on their own show once their contracts expire.
Per McCarthy, the “end game” for Stephen A. and Skip could be the launch of a podcast on a platform such as YouTube, with all of the major network stars taking note of Pat McAfee’s success on his own YouTube show.
Stephen A. Smith Is Saying Something Else
It’s understood that the former First Take teammates have been pushing for a reunion as of late.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
But there’s also the fact that Stephen A. recently claimed he’s “happier without” Skip, suggesting he has no intention of debating the 71-year-old in front of millions anytime soon.
“At this stage and point in my life, I’m happier without him,” Smith said on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take in an episode that dropped this Wednesday.
“I’m not going back. That’s not what I want anymore. But it has nothing to do with a debate show, it’s that I have other aspirations. I’ve been named the executive producer of First Take. I have my own production company…I have my own podcast…I’ve got a lot of aspirations. I want to do late-night television one day, potentially succeed Jimmy Kimmel.”
Conflicting stuff here, but make of it what you will.
