Former ESPN host Max Kellerman is making his return to the airwaves as a part of the broadcast team calling the UFC fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terrence Crawford taking place on September 13 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. Dan Le Batard explained during the Tuesday morning edition of his show that he sees Kellerman as a “prodigy” in the business. Furthermore, he extrapolated how he perceives First Take, the morning debate show on which he worked alongside Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim for almost five years, has changed since his departure, utilizing contributors such as Shannon Sharpe, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo and Mina Kimes.
“I’d be curious just people listening to this [of] what they would think of Max Kellerman leaving First Take,” Le Batard said, “and, I guess, probably taking some of the nuance with him because one of the complaints that Stephen A. had about Max Kellerman in getting him fired was that Max was offering context to an argument show when he wanted to do an argument show, and since then, it’s become more and more of an argument show, although I guess we probably all know at this point that Shannon Sharpe will never – is not likely to ever work at ESPN again, right?”
Sharpe decided to temporarily step away from his ESPN duties after being sued for sexual assault and battery. ESPN agreed with Sharpe’s decision to step away in a statement issued by the company this past April. More news about his future with the network has not been announced, and Le Batard Show producer Mike Ryan was not sure about what Le Batard stated.
“I think we can reasonably assume that,” Le Batard replied. “Shannon Sharpe would like it to look like he has a chance to return. I don’t know that you can be Disney and allow any of what happened there.”
Billy Gil, a producer for Le Batard’s program, asked if Sharpe needs to return to ESPN altogether. While he signed a multiyear contract with ESPN last summer that expanded his role onto other programming, he has also continued to take part in podcasts under his Shay Shay Media business such as Club Shay Shay and Nightcap. Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reported in April that Sharpe’s podcast deal with The Volume was up and that he has multiple offers and is expected to sign a deal worth more than $100 million.
“It helps to be on that platform during the week, but Stephen A. has made it – I don’t know how many people care about this – but Stephen A. just sort of works independently now,” Le Batard explained. “He got the deal that allows him to just be on First Take and then do everything else, and in doing so, First Take has been a giant for a long time, Max Kellerman fell by the wayside, and I think we can say Stephen A. profited off of his decision there in every way in a way that was really good for Stephen A. and ESPN, but less good for Max Kellerman.”
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