Stephen A. Smith is doing more than just talking sports. He recently announced a partnership with Audacy that will have him hosting a new podcast called Know Mercy. The show will see him branch out from sports to talk about entertainment, political, and social issues. It is a dangerous road according Paul Finebaum.
“I don’t think it’s a smart move,” Finebaum said on this week’s episode of The Jason Barrett Podcast. “I say that as someone, I truly love Stephen A. We are close friends.”
Smith made headlines recently on an episode of Finebaum’s SEC Network show when he said that he could be interested in running for president someday. Finebaum joked that Smith was supposed to promote his book, but that got buried.
Finebaum told Barrett that he has not talked politics in 20 years. Even when he did, it was when his show originated from a news/talk station in Birmingham, AL. He followed The Rush Limbaugh Show and said he felt obligated to do it then because after Limbaugh, “It took an hour or two for the audience to calm down.”
Mistake or not, Finebaum said he isn’t surprised that Stephen A. Smith is branching out into subjects outside of the sports realm. He pointed to a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live that Smith hosted, saying that the First Take star is clearly funny and talented.
“I’ve always thought only a guy that makes $12 million a year, according to what I read on Barrett the other day, and is the biggest name at ESPN and is the biggest name in the industry, still seems restless when talking about the stupidity of Kevin Durant everyday. I think he needs more, whether that is a good idea or not.”
Paul Finebaum reiterated that he may not agree with Stephen A. Smith on this particular decision, but he recognizes Smith’s ability to succeed in just about any aspect of the entertainment industry that Smith may want to enter.
“He’s a smart guy,” Finbaum said. “He doesn’t have to scream [to entertain viewers]. He doesn’t have to turn everything into high drama, but that is who he is right now.”
