Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty, and Michelle is a daily cavalcade of talk, analysis, interviews, and debate. The program airs weekdays at 6:00 a.m. on ESPN Radio, ESPN2, and ESPNU, and offers perhaps the most eclectic and electric trio of hosts on sports television.
Evan Cohen is a vociferous sports radio whiz whose mouth moves faster than Xavier Worthy in the 40-yard dash. Cohen’s shtick is non-stop, always enthusiastic, loud, and unabashed. Chris Canty has developed his TV game becoming one of the most provocative analysts on ESPN. In addition to Unsportsmanlike, he shines as a guest analyst on First Take and other ESPN platforms with seriously flammable takes. Michelle Smallmon is the key participant on the program. Often laid back, she watches Cohen and Canty go off, then brings reason, singular perspectives, and rationality to the show.
All three of these hosts fill their roles perfectly and, along with timely guests, provide a wide angle look at the previous day’s and upcoming day’s sports news.
Finding Creativity In Every Way To Embrace Debate
I checked out Unsportsmanlike on Tuesday, April 15. The show started with a bang with Canty, the former Cowboys, Giants, and Ravens defensive lineman, wearing a royal blue Awful for Arch t-shirt. The gist of his sartorial splendor was that the Giants should tank the 2025 season in order to draft University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning in 2026. Canty explained that he is opposed to New York drafting Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in this year’s draft because both GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll could both be fired. With Sanders scheduling a private workout for the Giants this week, the talk of him heading to New York is heating up for sure.
Smallmon made some telling retorts within the context of a desperation factor. She said that when you bring back a general manager and head coach who are both on the hot seat, the only way to save their jobs is to create some form of hope. She sees drafting Sanders as a questionable way to do this.
Cohen is the captain of this diverse crew. I used to somewhat dismiss him as just another caricature of a sports radio shock jock – more talk than talent, more attitude than ability. Cohen, however, has honed his craft on Unsportsmanlike and realizes that he has two astute sports analysts alongside. He definitely still gets his opinions out there but also provides room for Smallmon and Canty to do their respective things.
Unsportsmanlike also serves as an effective cross promotion vehicle for ESPN. Show segments often include or are preceded by a lead-in with video or audio clips from various ESPN shows and personalities. For a discussion on Aaron Rodgers perhaps signing with the New Orleans Saints, the production staff played an audio quote from ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter talking about that subject. Cohen lamented Rodgers’ drawn-out offseason silence asking the question, “What is this man waiting for?” In one of the show’s regular Hot Take Alerts, Cohen offered the theory that because of Rodgers’ lingering resentment for the Packers, he will announce his 2025 plans during next week’s NFL Draft in Green Bay to take away the spotlight from Packerland.
Knowing What To Hit And How Long To Attack It
Unsportsmanlike mixes things up better than The Great British Baking Show. Cohen, Canty, and Smallmon moved briskly from sport to sport and story to story. They don’t spend too much time on any one subject. The hosts get to the meat of the topic and state their viewpoints with power and precision.
In a discussion on the Phoenix Suns firing head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one disappointing season, the show ran sound from ESPN hoops insider Shams Charania while a graphic showed that Phoenix missed the playoffs with the largest payroll in NBA history. Cohen provided a nice rundown of the ups and downs of Kevin Durant‘s career, moving from team to team with mixed results.
The Unsportsmanlike trio are always prepared and on the ball. In a subsequent segment, ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington joined the crew to talk about NFL news and notes. Jumping to college football, Cohen, Canty, and Smallmon talked about QB Nico Iamaleava leaving the University of Tennessee football program over an NIL dispute. Canty talked about how players are trying to maximize their economic potential both at the college level and when they move onto the NFL. Smallmon added that these disputes often depend on how good the player is. If we are talking about a superstar performer, she explained, the school is more likely to acquiesce to keep that player in the fold.
Unsportsmanlike producer Pat Costello adds his two cents to the show with his daily I’m Over It segment, sharing what he’s fed up in the world of sports. It is a fun way to bring the hard-working, behind-the-scenes production staff into the broadcast. Schefter later joined the program live via audio to give his take on all things NFL. This was followed by a group analysis of NBA Play In games.
Breaking Through The Stereotypes Of Sports Talk
On the surface, Unsportsmanlike seems to be a somewhat contrived endeavor. Let’s get a sports guy, an ex-player, and woman’s perspective together and see what happens. This thought, however, is shattered by the very real and tangible chemistry between Cohen, Canty, and Smallmon. Like a good team, they combine their individual perceptions and create a seamless mix of styles. The word I use to describe Unsportsmanlike is balance. Cohen, Canty, and Smallmon effectively mix fun banter with hardcore sports chat. They let their personalities shine but not to the point where it blinds viewers and listeners.
One example was when Cohen playfully mocked Canty for taking notes during the show. Another was when the group announced that Unsportsmanlike would broadcast from the NFL Draft in Green Bay on April 24 and 25. Smallmon is from the Midwest, and her cohosts implied that the show would be all about her jokingly comparing Smallmon to the self-absorbed Aaron Rodgers. She retorted with a sarcastic and comical, “How dare you.”
This is the essence of Unsportsmanlike. While many TV, radio, podcast, and internet shows devolve and become more about the hosts than sports, Cohen, Canty, and Smallmon never lose themselves in themselves. They know when to rein in the bombast and get back to the issues at hand. The charisma, cohesion, and collaboration of these cohosts make for some seriously good sports talk. If you like a volume up, total package of morning sports commentary, and analysis, Unsportsmanlike is the show for you. Consider it a little Bailey’s in your coffee or a much-needed splash of hot sauce on your bacon and eggs.
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John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
