Stephen A. Smith talked on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show about his former partner Skip Bayless and the news that his time with FS1 and Undisputed is coming to an end. After Smith discussed the topic, ESPN released a statement as it related to Bayless and with that Smith felt he needed to re-address the topic. Over the weekend, Smith posted a 14-minute episode titled, ‘Stephen A’s Take: Skip Bayless’ FS1 run is over, but working at ESPN?’
“There’s been a lot of speculation about a possible return to ESPN for Skip Bayless,” Smith started out. “For ESPN’s part, they’ve stated the following in a release…just a couple of days ago, “We are set with the current First Take rotation and wish Skip the best on his future endeavors.’ I had no idea ESPN was going to issue that statement…I work for them. It’s not the other way around. They have the right to do what they want.”
Smith said the public has been asking him how he feels about the situation and what ESPN said in its statement and that is the reason he has put out the episode, to address the topic.
“First of all, I hope Skip Bayless’ career is not over,” he said. “But the first thing that I would say is that…I think Skip will land someplace. Why can’t we respect the fact that the brother is 73 years old? I mean, why are we talking about him like he’s 43? I’ve been number one in the mornings for 12 years. Some have said I’m the number one talent in sports media. I leave that for other people to decide. I don’t get caught up in all of that. I pay attention to ratings and revenue. I leave the rest for all of y’all to deal with. But I’m 56. I can assure you; I don’t believe for one second, I’m going to be in that position when I’m 73 years old. So why is it that he has to be viewed as failing?”
Later, Smith referred back to the statement made by ESPN and talked about what was said in it and whether or not he agreed with it.
“Had they asked me, I would have said the same thing that ESPN said,” he said. “Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith together as partners, working across from each other on a debate show is over. It’s been over. And this is not the first time I’ve said it. There’s no negativity or shade being thrown on Skip Bayless. I have moved on. When I arrived on First Take, it was courtesy of Skip Bayless. And for those out there who say he wants to say he saved my career; I got no problems with it. Because even though I was back by the time he asked me to come on First Take, I was restricted to radio. I wasn’t allowed on television. And if it wasn’t for Skip Bayless giving me the opportunity along with Jamie Horowitz, who knows where I’d be.”
Smith would later add that this has nothing to do with his personal relationship with Bayless or how he feels about him and the role he played in Smith’s career.
“‘m not throwing any shade or anything on Skip Bayless,” he said. “I’ll always have love for him. He’ll always be a brother to me. But I’m not telling you anything that anybody hasn’t heard me say before. I’m past all of that. And me connecting and reigniting things with Skip Bayless is not what I want my future to be. I wish him well. I want him to land on his feet. If he ever needs my help in any other way, I’m happy to help him.”
