Stephen A. Smith insists Skip Bayless reunion isn’t ratings grab: ‘I’m always looking for young talent’
Credit: The Stephen A. Smith Show Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless will reunite on First Take this Friday, and Smith wants critics to celebrate the move rather than question it.
It’s been 10 years since Bayless left the debate show he built on ESPN to launch a rival concept on FS1 with Shannon Sharpe. And on the heels of Smith announcing Bayless is returning to First Take 10 years later, it seems reasonable to wonder why. “Instead of just celebrating Skip Bayless coming back to First Take for the day, I’m seeing articles here on Fox News, Awful Announcing, along with others…one article actually said, ‘ Why is Skip Bayless coming back?
’ And it’s talking about ratings slip. “He’s coming back because I wanted him to come back for a day. Because I haven’t been with my guy in 10 years.
Ratings slip? We’re still number one. We’ve had record ratings over the last five years.
At some point in time, that’s not going to happen, because how many records can you break? I had Cam’ron from It Is What It Is podcast and a native New Yorker on today. I’m gonna have others on in the future because I’m always looking for young talent out there.