Skip Bayless returned to ESPN's *First Take* for the first time in ten years, reuniting with Stephen A. Smith. Speculation about the reunion being a ratings strategy was dismissed by Smith.
Credit: First Take, Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Friday was a turn back the clock moment for First Take, ESPNâs popular sports debate show. Skip Bayless returned to the set and sat across from his longtime debate partner, Stephen A. Smith, for the first time since leaving the network for Fox ten years ago.
Speculation arose that Baylessâs return was a ratings grab for ESPN, but Smith shot down any such notion.
âInstead of just celebrating Skip Bayless coming back to First Take for the day, Iâm seeing articles here on Fox News, Awful Announcing, along with othersâŠone article actually said, âWhy is Skip Bayless coming back?â And itâs talking about ratings slip.
âHeâs coming back because I wanted him to come back for a day. Because I havenât been with my guy in 10 years. Ratings slip? Weâre still number one. Weâve had record ratings over the last five years. At some point in time, thatâs not going to happen, because how many records can you break? I had Camâron from It Is What It Is podcast and a native New Yorker on today. Iâm gonna have others on in the future because Iâm always looking for young talent out there.â
Regardless of what the reason for his return is, the dynamic duo hardly missed a beat, managing to touch on all of their most famous talking points, including Baylessâs Cowboys fandom, Smithâs Knicks fandom, and of course, LeBron James. True to form, Bayless was incredulous at how high Smith ranked James on his list of the NBAâs all-time great basketball players.
âYouâve already elevated LeBron James up to number two on your all-time list?â Bayless asked incredulously. âI have him at nine!â
âYeah, that is one of the most asinine things that have ever come out of your mouth in your illustrious career in television,â Smith said after Bayless broke down his top ten list. Itâs almost so blasphemous, I donât know if you should be banned from television. I mean, I canât believe what the hell you just said. Itâs unbelievable that you would say some of this stuff.â
Itâll be interesting to see if Bayless winds up rejoining the Worldwide Leader in a more permanent role.
The post Skip Bayless canât believe where Stephen A. Smith has LeBron ranked appeared first on The Comeback: Todayâs Top Sports Stories & Reactions.
Skip Bayless returned to *First Take* for a special appearance, marking his first time back on the show in ten years.
Stephen A. Smith dismissed the speculation that Bayless's return was a ratings grab, emphasizing the significance of the reunion instead.
Skip Bayless left ESPN for Fox ten years ago, making his recent appearance on *First Take* notable.
Wembanyama and Edwards go head-to-head in a tied Game 3 first half
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.