In an unlikely flip of occasions, it appears to be like just like the gang is getting again collectively, not less than for a restricted time.
Stephen A. Smith and former ESPN companion Skip Bayless are reuniting for an episode of Bayless’s podcast, in keeping with Entrance Workplace Sports activities.
“The Skip Bayless Show” episode that includes Smith has reportedly already been taped and is ready to be launched early subsequent week.
Smith and Bayless labored for over a decade collectively at ESPN, most notably as “First Take” speaking heads from 2012-16.
Bayless in the end left the present and the community as an entire in 2016, choosing a job on FS1’s “Undisputed.”
On the finish of final yr, Smith talked about his relationship with Bayless.
“When I say we don’t have a relationship, it’s not anything negative from my end,” Smith mentioned on the “Talk With Flee” podcast in December 2024. “It’s me letting , ‘Yo, bro, I picked up the phone on several occasions.’ He by no means referred to as me again.
“To me, if you that kind of person, that doesn’t make you bad, it just means that we can’t vibe. Because I’m gonna answer a call.”
“Our relationship goes back too long for me not to get a call from you when I called you. When you made that decision, cool. Live with your decision,” Smith added. “I will always love Skip, even when I adamantly and emphatically disagree with some of the things he says and does. But the part about not calling me back? Not answering my call? Nah, bro. Anybody that knows me, family included, anybody that knows me knows you don’t get too many shots with that with me. I don’t pick up the phone too often to call you. If you don’t answer my call, you don’t answer my call.”
For the reason that separation 9 years in the past, Smith has remained prevalent within the sports activities media highlight and inked a five-year, $100 million contract with ESPN this week.
Bayless left FS1 in August 2024.
