After a hiatus of 10 years, ESPN’s First Take will see analyst Stephen A. Smith reunite with an old colleague. Analyst Skip Bayless is all set to rejoin First Take alongside Smith, where the duo first came together back in 2012 to give NBA and NFL fans some iconic moments that are still revered to this day.
A report from Front Office Sports reveals that the 74-year-old Bayless is set to join First Take this very week, with Bayless and Smith coming back together for the first time since 2016.
“Skip Bayless will join Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take this Friday”, Front Office Sports reported.
However, contrary to the enthusiasm of a lot of fans, some sports media personalities aren’t too keen on this iconic duo making a comeback. Basketball analyst Jeff Goodman, most famously known for his work as the co-founder of Field of 68, expressed his dissatisfaction on X upon hearing the news of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless sharing the screen again after a long decade.
“No one needs this”, Goodman wrote on X.
One of Stephen A. Smith’s and Skip Bayless’s most iconic clips discussing Tom Brady and Tim Tebow (Post via X/@jetsfan24x7)
While it doesn’t seem likely that Goodman will tune in to watch First Take this Friday, it’s safe to assume that the program could break numbers in what Front Office Sports is calling a “one-time show.”
Why Did Skip Bayless Leave First Take In 2016?
After the cancellation of Stephen A. Smith’s talk show “Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith” back in 2009, Bayless brought Smith onboard as a guest debater on First Take before eventually joining the show on a permanent basis in 2012.
However, Bayless made the decision to join Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe in August 2016, marking the end of the legendary duo’s end.
Bayless was a host on the Undisputed up until its cancellation in 2024. Since then, the sports analyst and commentator is often seen opining on the NFL and NBA on his YouTube channel while also making appearances on Gilbert Arenas’ The Arena: Gridiron.
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