Stephen A. Smith Heaps Praise On Skip Bayless

BYAlexander ColePublished on June 15, 2023924 Views

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless attend the The Paley Center for Media 2014 Spring Benefit Dinner at 583 Park Avenue on May 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic)

Stephen A. Smith explained how Skip Bayless helped a lot of careers.

Stephen A. Smith is one of the most famous men on sports talk television. However, there is no doubt that he got to where he is now with a lot of hard work. Overall, the road has not been an easy one for Smith. He was let go from ESPN back in the 2000s but was ultimately able to come back on First Take. The show was co-hosted by him and none other than Skip Bayless. Although, Skip left the show in 2016, where he joined forces with Shannon Sharpe and formed the show Undisputed.

On Tuesday, Shannon Sharpe had his very last show with Bayless. Weeks prior, Sharpe had made it clear that he would be moving on. Subsequently, this led to plenty of rumors about his relationship with Bayless. However, during his final episode, he expressed gratitude toward Skip as he ultimately gave Sharpe a platform to be successful. Now, Stephen A. is weighing in on all of this. During an episode of his podcast, he revealed just how much Skip did for him at ESPN. Moreover, he noted that his career would look a lot different if it weren't for Bayless.

Stephen A. Loves His Former Broadcast Partner

“And I can relate because I am sitting here right now with this podcast feeding off my success and what I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to achieve at ESPN,” Stephen A. explained. “And knowing that it starts with Skip Bayless. [...] There’s a whole bunch of brothers and sisters – Black people – that Skip Bayless has helped out and looked out for. And I know people try to question his intent. I’m highlighting his results.”

At this point, a lot of fans would love to see Stephen A. and Skip join forces again. However, this doesn't seem quite likely. In fact, it probably makes more sense for Shannon Sharpe to join First Take. Although, that doesn't seem imminent either. Let us know what you want Sharpe to do next, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

About The Author

Alexander Cole

Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.