Filming from the Seaport District studios in New York City, First Take has access to several members of ESPN’s talent pool, and Chris Canty learned he could be called on at any time.
ESPN Radio’s new morning show — UnSportsmanLike — airs from the same studios as First Take, allowing for its hosts to contribute to television programs as well. Canty recently appeared on an episode of the program where he was implored by Smith, who also serves as an executive producer of the program, to be prepared if he needs him at a moment’s notice.
“I don’t think it could be described as a jab; more like a tongue-lashing,” Canty said on Friday morning. “This was off-air – this was off-air – and a little bit on-air too; it came on-air too, but it was after the segment that I had on First Take, it was, ‘Make sure you bring a suit to the Seaport and be on standby for when I need you.’”
Canty played 11 seasons as a defensive end in the NFL. Because of his NFL knowledge, co-host Evan Cohen likened the situation to Smith serving as a veteran for Canty. Cohen emphasized that the way Canty told the story suggested that when Smith speaks to him, he feels he has to listen.
“The only difference is my vet in the NFL would actually take me suit shopping and buy the suit for me,” Canty said. “That’s the only difference.”
“Let’s now read between the lines here, ladies and gentlemen,” Cohen replied. “Are you suggesting that Stephen A. Smith, if he wants you to have suits on standby, should buy you suits on standby?”
Responding to Cohen’s inquiry, Canty expressed that it would be a “nice gesture” if Smith were to purchase a suit for him to have at the ready for First Take. In his response, he expressed how veterans in the NFL locker room would have purchased the player a suit so there would be no excuse in not being properly dressed on road trips.
“I would pay for cameras to be rolling for you and Stephen A. Smith to go suit shopping,” co-host Michelle Smallmon said.
“If that happened, I’m buying the most expensive suit [with] the most expensive fabric I can find,” Chris Canty replied. “I’m talking about Purple Label Ralph Lauren; House of Zeniaa.”
