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Celtics guard Jaylen Brown challenges ESPN's Stephen A Smith to a debate at Harvard or MIT

Mon, 25 May 2026 13:53:32 -0400

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has challenged ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith to a live debate. Yes, this is an actual headline in 2026.

At first, the feud between Brown and Smith was pretty funny. The two took jabs at one another across various media platforms, including television, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch.

It seemed a little fake, given Smith's propensity for getting into beefs with famous NBA players. The feuds often feel performative, but seem to drive public attention to Smith. He's previously quarreled with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green.

CELTICS STAR JAYLEN BROWN TEARS INTO ESPN'S STEPHEN A SMITH AS FEUD ESCALATES: 'FACE OF CLICKBAIT MEDIA'

This one started because Smith appeared on ESPN's "First Take" and criticized Brown for calling the 2025-26 season his "favorite" even though the Celtics lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only did they lose, but the second-seeded Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead against the seventh-seeded 76ers.

Brown fired back, Smith fired back, Brown fired back, Smith fired back, and on and on it went.

For those who thought it was over, you are very wrong. Brown decided to throw down one final challenge. On a recent Twitch stream, Brown brought up his feud with Smith, again.

"Listen, I'm not even really focused on Stephen A.," Brown said, according to Celtics Wire. "I'm really focused on the industry that he represents. Obviously I have my quarrels with Stephen A, but I also have my quarrels with the industry in itself. Stephen A. is the face of the industry and his willingness to serve his higher ups is a major cause for concern, and it's caused frustration, but it ain't even really about him."

Then, Brown proceeded to challenge Smith to a live debate.

"Why don't we have a live audience debate, traditional media versus us athletes? And let's do a live debate in front of a live streamed audience at a mutual location like a Harvard or MIT and let's talk about it. Let's see who come out on top. Should be easy. Should be a piece of cake," Brown snarkily added.

STEPHEN A SMITH FIRES BACK AT JAYLEN BROWN AFTER CELTICS STAR CALLED HIM THE 'FACE OF CLICKBAIT MEDIA'

Brown even had some suggestions of where the debate could be held.

"Mainstream traditional media versus the athlete. Let's set it up. Harvard, MIT, live and let's see who comes out on top. You know where to find me. We know where to contact my team. Let's set up a live debate at a mutual location and let's talk about it. Traditional vs. untraditional. Mainstream media vs. the dumb jock. Let's see who comes out on top," Brown concluded.

Honestly, with the current state of elite universities like MIT and Harvard, a debate between an NBA star and an NBA analyst seems perfect.

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But what exactly would the two debate? That part was never made clear.

And that's perhaps the funniest aspect of the whole thing. When I was growing up, people challenged each other to fight. Have a problem with someone? Fine, settle it "outside." It's fascinating that challenging someone to debate is seemingly much more common in these public feuds than physical altercations.

Perhaps that means society is evolving and people are using their words instead of their fists. As for this actual debate between Smith and Brown, it probably won't happen.

But if it does, yeah, I'll watch. And so will you.

Cavs need LeBron James 'to return home to save the day,' ESPN star Stephen A Smith says

Sun, 24 May 2026 08:34:18 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers went down 3-0 to the New York Knicks after Game 3 on Saturday.

Since the Knicks’ Game 1 comeback victory, New York seemed to suck the life out of Cleveland. The Knicks pulled away from the Cavaliers late in Game 3 and closed out a 121-108 win. One more victory and the Knicks will be in the NBA Finals.

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Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN personality and unabashed Knicks fan, criticized the Cavaliers’ play and said the team needed to lure LeBron James back to the franchise.

"This is a disgraceful late-game show of effort by the @cavs. Hate to say it, because I’m a @nyknicks fan, but it’s just the truth: when you see this franchise quit like they just did, it needs someone who cares a bit more. Someone proudly accountable to Cleveland.

"Yes…..I’m saying it…….they need @KingJames to return home to save the day…..if THIS group is ever going to bring a title back to Cleveland. Seriously!!!!

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Speculation over whether James will return to Cleveland for at least one more season has ramped up since the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs.

James reportedly "liked" an Instagram post featuring him in a Cavaliers jersey, further fueling the possibility of one last dance in Cleveland.

For now, James remains undecided about his basketball future, but he did reveal plans to take time with his family before making any decision.

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"I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight," James said on May 11. "I’ve got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do."

91��’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

Limousine Liberal Max Kellerman apologizes to James Harden for comparing him to Trump

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:33:05 -0400

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman made headlines this week after criticizing Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden for another disappointing playoff performance by comparing him to President Donald Trump.

"Bringing in James Harden to win a championship is like electing Donald Trump to fix your country," Kellerman said Wednesday on his "Game Over" podcast.

Kellerman is now apologizing for the remark. According to him, comparing any athlete to Trump crosses the line.

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"I shouldn’t have said that because it’s not fair to James Harden. I did not mean to insult him publicly in a way that was going to go viral. It was too severe," Kellerman said Friday on his Netflix podcast.

FORMER ESPN HOST MAX KELLERMAN BELITTLES JAMES HARDEN'S POOR PERFORMANCE WITH COMPARISON TO TRUMP

"I don’t think it’s as bad as all that. I don’t think it’s as bad as electing Trump to fix your country, but that’s the idea. That’s the opposite of what you’d do if you’re trying to get a certain result."

Notably, Kellerman never compared a disappointing athlete to Joe Biden during his disastrous presidency.

As we argued earlier this week, whatever one thinks of Trump politically, he has won the presidency twice. Harden, meanwhile, has never led a team to a championship or even reached the NBA Finals as the primary star. The Thunder reached the Finals in 2012, but Harden came off the bench.

If Kellerman wanted a more fitting analogy, comparing Harden to Kamala Harris, another figure who has never won the big one, would have made far more sense.

More than anything, Kellerman’s Trump comparison served as a reminder of why he became so unpopular during his run alongside Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s "First Take." Kellerman routinely used the platform to lecture viewers about politics while belittling Trump and his supporters.

In 2020, Kellerman claimed Trump voters in the South were "susceptible to very low-quality information, easy to propagandize, and almost immune to facts."

Kellerman, while undeniably talented, has long embodied the image of a limousine liberal. With homes in New York and Los Angeles, he often comes across as someone who views Americans outside elite coastal circles as intellectually inferior simply because they do not share his politics.

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According to reports and comments from Stephen A. Smith himself, Kellerman’s increasingly left-wing commentary contributed to his eventual exit from "First Take." Put simply, even Stephen A. appeared to grow tired of the constant political grandstanding.

Kellerman now hosts a Netflix podcast alongside LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul. Judging by the tone and content of the show, it seems aimed less at everyday sports fans and more at the cocktail-party elite crowd Kellerman has spent much of his career trying to impress.

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman belittles James Harden's poor performance with comparison to Trump

Wed, 20 May 2026 17:20:07 -0400

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman says the Cleveland Cavaliers made the same mistake trading for James Harden as Americans did in electing Donald Trump president.

"Bringing in James Harden to win a championship is like electing Donald Trump to fix your country," Kellerman said Wednesday on his "Game Over" podcast.

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The comparison came after the Cavaliers blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead Tuesday night against the New York Knicks. Following the collapse, Knicks coach Mike Brown openly admitted to game-planning around Harden's porous defense.

"There is no secret: We were attacking Harden," Brown told reporters after the game. "Sometimes you’ve got to do what the game dictates, and they were trying to do the same thing with Jalen (Brunson), so we said, ‘OK, we feel like we can play that game.’ We try not to play that game much, but we feel like we have a guy that we can play that game with in Jalen."

DAN LE BATARD, WHO PREVIOUSLY AVOIDED DOUG EMHOFF ABUSE ALLEGATION, DECLARES JOURNALISM 'DEAD'

Kellerman comparing Harden to Trump in this light is hardly surprising.

During his time at ESPN, Kellerman was among the network’s most openly liberal commentators. In fact, one of the reasons Stephen A. Smith pushed to remove him from "First Take" was that Kellerman positioned himself even further to the left than even Smith on certain racial and political discussions.

At one point, former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens even appeared on "First Take" and told Smith that "Max was blacker" than he was. Sources tell OutKick that Smith and Kellerman's relationship never recovered from this segment, despite Owens causing the rift.

Kellerman’s disdain for Trump was also evident throughout the latter’s first term in office. In 2020, Kellerman argued on air that Trump voters in the South "seem to be susceptible to very low-quality information, easy to propagandize, and almost immune to facts."

Now working independently through platforms like Spotify and Netflix, Kellerman has even more freedom to blend politics and sports commentary.

Still, the Trump-Harden comparison feels forced.

Whatever one thinks about Trump politically, he has won the presidency twice. Harden, meanwhile, has spent much of his postseason career falling short in the biggest moments.

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As Brown acknowledged Tuesday night, opposing teams view Harden’s defense as such a liability that they actively build game plans around targeting him.

Harden and Kamala Harris, in terms of never winning the big one, might be a more accurate comparison.

Stephen A Smith fires back at Jaylen Brown after Celtics star called him the 'face of clickbait media'

Mon, 18 May 2026 16:17:33 -0400

Stephen A. Smith is firing back at Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics star called the popular ESPN personality the "face of clickbait media" during a Twitch live stream over the weekend.

Brown referred to Smith as a "clown" as well, but the veteran sports pundit took time on Monday’s edition of "First Take" to address those comments in a long rant of his own.

"I’m not going to disrespect Jaylen Brown," Smith said. "…He’s pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Point it at yourself, bro."

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Smith had criticized Brown for saying this past season with the Boston Celtics, which ended in the first-round of the playoffs with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, was his favorite with the franchise. Brown responded on Sunday night by telling the ESPN personality to "be quiet."

"Did he just say I needed to be quiet? Be quiet for who?" Brown said Sunday night. "Man, f--- Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait."

CELTICS STAR JAYLEN BROWN TEARS INTO ESPN'S STEPHEN A SMITH AS FEUD ESCALATES: 'FACE OF CLICKBAIT MEDIA'

"Tell this mother----er to retire because he’s the face of clickbait media at the point and maybe with his retirement we can spark a movement to get the rest of these mother----ers out of here — or to also have some type of … forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold themselves accountable to the bulls--- takes they put out."

Smith doubled down on his previous comment, though, in Monday’s monologue.

"The Boston Celtics, the most storied franchise in basketball annals, 18 [championships]. You helped deliver one of them just two years ago. Two years later, y’all surrender a 3-1 lead for the first time in its history, in franchise history, with you driving the bus. And 24 hours after you didn’t go to the basket in the final two minutes, after y’all launched three-point shots on six separate occasions and missed every one of them. [In] 24 hours after that was over, you went on camera as a representative for the Boston Celtics and called it your favorite season. A season where Jayson Tatum was on the bench for 60 games, a season that ended with you losing a 3-1 lead, a season that ended with you getting bounced in the First Round. You went on and said that was your favorite season."

"Since you represent the franchise, I was simply providing a heads up that it wasn’t wise from somebody who is considered relatively wise to say that 24 hours after being sent home, after surrendering a 3-1 lead in the postseason for the first time in franchise history. That’s what I said."

Smith ended his rant with a warning for Brown.

"In the end, Jaylen Brown, be careful what you wish for," he said. "You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might feel about you, how the city might feel about you, how Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you. Sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on.

"The season is over, bro. You’re on Twitch trying to do what I do, and me needing to step away. It makes no sense. I’m not being disrespectful. I’m simply making the point it is not wise after 24 hours of having your season over in the First Round for you to be coming out talking about how that’s your favorite season. It ain’t the smartest thing in the world to do."

Smith also prefaced his statement by saying how he’s been on Brown’s side throughout the season, as well as in the past. He brought up his philanthropy within his community and explained how much he respected Brown.

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As Smith mentioned, the Celtics were shockingly bounced from the NBA Playoffs after losing three straight games to finish their first-round series with the Sixers. During the regular season, with Tatum rehabbing his way back from injury, Brown was the focal point of the Celtics, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

Boston ended up earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after going 56-26, but they couldn’t finish against Philadelphia, ultimately setting unfortunate franchise history in the process.

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Celtics star Jaylen Brown tears into ESPN's Stephen A Smith as feud escalates: 'Face of clickbait media'

Mon, 18 May 2026 06:29:21 -0400

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s season may be over but his feud with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith heated up over the weekend.

Brown was on his livestream and came after Smith once again after the sports pundit told the NBA guard to "be quiet." Smith previously responded to Brown accusing NBA referees of having an "agenda" against him following the Philadelphia 76ers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series against the Celtics.

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The five-time All-Star wrote on X earlier this month he would "be quiet" once Smith retired.

"Did he just say I needed to be quiet? Be quiet for who?" he said Sunday night. "Man, f--- Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait.

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Brown analyzed one clip of Smith speaking about Brown not having Jayson Tatum on his stream and suggested that it’s the reason why Smith is referred to as a "clown."

It’s safe to say the Celtics had a better season than NBA fans expected. Boston came into the year without Tatum as he suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs last year.

But Brown carried the load, playing in 71 games and averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Brown said that Smith couldn’t understand how leadership and team chemistry helped lift the Celtics to greater heights than what was expected.

The Celtics were 56-26 and won the Atlantic Division.

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Smith previously said that Brown needed to "be quiet" unless he was trying to force the Celtics to trade him.

ESPN writer says Lane Kiffin should try to stop Louisiana from 'eradicating' black voting power

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:43:23 -0400

OutKick recently credited ESPN for pivoting away from identity politics and incendiary rhetoric. Most of the network’s most racially idolatrous commentators are gone, from Mark Jones to Clinton Yates, from Elle Duncan to Sarah Spain.

Still, a few holdovers remain. David Dennis Jr. is one of them.

This week, Dennis published an inflammatory article for ESPN.com and Andscape titled "Why Lane Kiffin’s ‘Ole Miss’ virtue signaling falls flat." The piece responded to Kiffin saying, and later apologizing for saying, that some black families were uncomfortable with their sons and grandsons playing for Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi.

And, oh, is it a doozy.

Dennis opens by declaring that he would refer to the school as "Ole Miss" only once.

"This is the last time I’ll use that name, by the way, as its origins are related to slavery as well," Dennis wrote.

He then accused Kiffin of not caring enough about "diversity."

"His actions before and since taking the University of Mississippi job haven’t shown any care about diversity, or that the lack thereof in Oxford bothered him. Instead, this just looks like virtue signaling to justify his controversial move to Baton Rouge, which is insulting to people actually affected by what the University of Mississippi represents."

Dennis appeared even more upset that Kiffin took a job at LSU, in a state he accused of trying to suppress the black vote.

"As [Kiffin] probably knows, Louisiana is ground zero for last month’s Supreme Court ruling that essentially gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965," Dennis continued. "The state is currently working to eradicate black representation from its congressional delegation. At the same time, there’s a groundswell movement calling for black athletes to avoid SEC schools because of the potential demolition of the Voting Rights Act."

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Eradicate black representation from its congressional delegation, huh? OutKick asked Dennis to elaborate on that claim. We did not hear back. We will update this story if we do.

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He concluded the section by suggesting Kiffin should use his platform to stop the alleged "eradication."

"If Kiffin is so concerned with recruits being turned off by the anti-black nature of a state’s politics, he might want to hurry up and use his power to effect change. He may want to say something about preserving everyone’s right to equal representation," Dennis wrote.

You can read the full piece here. The article gained traction Thursday night after OutKick founder Clay Travis posted about it on X.

"ESPN, which is the only partner on SEC athletics, employing a writer who posts articles ripping coaches and stirring up racial angst through politics, is absolutely insane to me," Clay wrote alongside a screenshot of Dennis’ article. Dennis has apparently blocked him.

Insane, indeed.

And this is Dennis’ entire schtick. He’s a poor man’s Bomani Jones.

For a refresher, Dennis is the ESPN writer who claimed Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign "mortified" him. Let that sink in for a moment.

Other highlights from Dennis’ résumé include publishing a hit piece on Hulk Hogan just hours after his death, arguing the wrestling icon should be remembered only as a racist.

"When you are a racist that is your legacy above all else," Dennis wrote. "Hulk Hogan died being known as a racist who also became famous as a professional wrestler."

The issue with Dennis’ framing is the contrast between how he eulogized Hogan compared to Kobe Bryant. Bryant faced a rape accusation and also made homophobic comments during his career. Yet Dennis mentioned neither in a fawning obituary titled "Remembering Kobe Bryant, a Man Who Never Trusted in Tomorrow," in which he praised Bryant’s character off the court.

OutKick also asked Dennis about that apparent inconsistency at the time. He never responded. He appears to be another commentator who treats word crimes more seriously than alleged violent crimes.

Clay Travis also pointed out how Dennis is bad for ESPN’s business by portraying SEC schools and fans as racist. He’s right. But Dennis has also undermined another ESPN property, the WNBA, by openly rooting against Caitlin Clark’s fans.

"I hope the people who say they are staying away from the WNBA now that CC is gone actually keep to their promise," Dennis posted on X in 2024. "These are about to be all-time series and their toxicity isn’t needed. Let us enjoy things."

For context, Clark’s fans made up a majority share of WNBA viewership in 2024.

Sports media reporter Ryan Glasspiegel summarized Dennis’ comments with the headline: "ESPN employee says he wants lower ratings for ESPN property."

At some point, you have to wonder why ESPN keeps Dennis on the payroll.

He’s predictable, unprofessional, and painfully one-note. His fixation on race colors nearly every argument he makes. He’s the exact type of commentator who drove viewers away from ESPN in the first place.

What’s more, ESPN regularly puts Dennis on flagship shows like "First Take," "SportsCenter," and "NBA Today." It’s one thing to let him post dubious, grievance-driven essays on "Andscape." It’s another to position him as a serious television voice on sports.

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Specifically, Dennis has virtually no background covering sports. He has spent most of his career writing about race, civil rights and his father. We can't say for certain why ESPN hired him in the first place, though the timing — at the height of BLM and the George Floyd riots — cannot be a coincidence.

ESPN likely understands all of this, but also has to be cautious. Dennis seems like the type of person who would immediately claim racism and threaten legal action.

Still, the network should probably soon find a way to announce that David Dennis Jr. has "mutually parted ways" with the company.

Keeping him on the roster undermines all of the recent progress ESPN has made.

NASCAR greats sound off on Stephen A Smith's take that drivers are not athletes

Thu, 14 May 2026 07:04:17 -0400

Stephen A. Smith did not make many friends in NASCAR circles when he labeled drivers as non-athletes.

"Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!" Smith said last month on his SiriusXM show. "I’m being honest. It’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same.

"You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud."

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Well, Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon caught wind of what Smith had to say, and naturally, they challenged him.

"My first response is, do we really want to give clicks and attention to Stephen A. for, I feel like that's what he's asking for there," Gordon began during a recent interview with 91�� Digital.

"But at the same time, clearly he doesn't know a whole lot about the sport, and he doesn't know what it takes to be an athlete in motorsports. There's no doubt about the mental fatigue it takes to be in the car for hours, the competitiveness and things that make drivers true athletes. It's just in a different sense of how a stick-and-ball sport is perceived as an athlete."

Larson, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion then challenged Smith, or anyone for that matter, to go one lap in a race car "without feeling like they're going to die."

"Everybody's got a little bit different definition for what an athlete might mean to them. So his definition is different than the way I would feel about it. Do I get worked up about it when I hear somebody say that we're not athletes? No."

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"I do," Gordon butted in.

But Larson is a bit more understanding.

"I just accept that they won't understand, because they will never be able to strap into a race car that goes 200 miles an hour. If they did, I don't think they would be able to make it a lap without feeling like they're going to die," Larson continued.

"And then you factor in three-and-a-half-hour-long races and a 150-degree car with an elevated heart rate of probably 150 for three hours, with a peak of, for me, would be 190. I think then they would quickly realize that although you're not shooting a ball into a hoop, this is definitely a sport and definitely a tough one where you have to be an athlete — maybe more on the endurance side of things."

Gordon said he recently invited Jason Kelce to take a lap and even drive a car on a course.

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"I'm pretty sure he'd have a different opinion about it," Gordon said. "Just ask him."

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Skip Bayless boosts Stephen A's sluggish "First Take" ratings by 24% on their reunion show

Wed, 13 May 2026 18:23:11 -0400

Skip Bayless’ return to "First Take" on ESPN last week boosted viewership by 24%, ESPN confirms to OutKick.

The episode aired Friday, May 9, and averaged 647,000 viewers. The program is averaging 520,800 viewers so far in 2026.

This was Bayless' first television appearance with Stephen A. Smith in nearly 10 years.

The increase is notable. While "First Take" remains one of ESPN’s higher-rated shows, it has struggled to keep pace with the growth of surrounding programs. ESPN recently said "Get Up" is up 18% and "The Pat McAfee Show" is up 16%. "First Take," which airs between them, is up just 5%.

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There is a case that the show has grown stale under its current format of rotating contributors debating with Smith. The lineup often features mid-tier former athletes like Ryan Clark, Kendrick Perkins and Chiney Ogwumike. That dynamic forces Smith to drive the discussion himself. As his other former debate partner Max Kellerman explained, Smith is at his best reacting cartoonishly to provocative takes, not constructing them.

Enter Skip Bayless.

Friday’s episode felt more engaging because Bayless set the tone. As in the past, he answered first, made an argument, and Smith responded theatrically. This format does not appeal to everyone and can veer into the corny, but it is more compelling than watching Smith stretch to carry debates on his own.

Since Bayless’ departure, Smith has often appeared unprepared and uninformed on general sports topics. His increased focus on political commentary outside ESPN has not helped.

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Looking ahead, ESPN labeled Bayless’ return a "one-time" appearance. However, Smith said as recently as last year that he had no interest in reuniting with Bayless in any capacity. Plans change, especially when viewership is a factor.

Stephen A. sees Mike Greenberg (the host of "Get Up") and Pat McAfee closing in on his viewership. The gaps between the three are now minimal. At this pace, one or both could surpass "First Take" by football season. Smith, who is also the executive producer of "First Take," will undoubtedly take note of the lift Bayless provides and consider bringing him back again.

Whether Bayless can deliver sustained gains beyond a nostalgia-driven, one-time spike is unclear. ESPN and Smith may test that with additional appearances before making any longer-term decision.

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In any event, a full-time return for Bayless is unlikely. Smith has long emphasized his control over the show and is unlikely to want to share it.

On one hand, a part-time role could be a blow to Bayless' ego. "First Take" was his show in 2012. He pushed for Smith to join him, despite internal resistance at ESPN to use him as anything more than a radio talent. Returning as a contributor to a platform that used to be his cannot be ideal.

On the other hand, Bayless recently posted a 28-minute video recapping the appearance and called his relationship with Smith the "greatest thing to ever happen" to him, even above his marriage. He sounds desperate. Since leaving FS1 in 2024, he has struggled to break through in the digital media space.

Ultimately, Skip Bayless returning once a week to debate Smith, like Chris "Mad Dog" Russo does each Wednesday, would make the most sense for all parties.

Bayless needs it. Stephen A. and "First Take" might as well.

Does Stephen A Smith owe former partner Skip Bayless a full-time role on the show "First Take?"

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:41:37 -0400

Skip Bayless called his on-air partnership with Stephen A. Smith the "greatest thing that has ever happened" in his life, even greater than his marriage.

An emotional Bayless spent 28 minutes on social media Monday night breaking down his reunion with Smith on "First Take" last Friday, their first episode together in nearly 10 years. The implication was obvious: he wants to work with Smith again.

For now, ESPN is labeling Bayless’ return as a "one-time" event. Still, Smith, who also serves as the show’s executive producer, has the pull to change that if he chooses. Not long ago, Smith said he had no interest in working with Bayless again. That stance softened, at least for one day, last week.

The dynamic between the two is layered. In 2012, Bayless was the star of "First Take" and pushed for Smith to join him. At the time, Smith had just returned to ESPN but was relegated to radio, with management hesitant to put him back on television.

They spent about five years together building the show into a hit. In 2016, Bayless left for FS1 to launch "Undisputed" with Shannon Sharpe. The show initially chipped away at ESPN’s audience, prompting the network to move "First Take" from ESPN2 to the main channel. Over time, Smith became ESPN’s biggest star. Meanwhile, "Undisputed" dwindled to around 30,000 viewers before its cancellation in 2024.

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Today, Smith earns $20 million annually at ESPN. Bayless, by contrast, is without a major television platform and has struggled to find traction online. He hasn’t uploaded a new episode of "The Skip Bayless Show" since October and now appears as a contributor on a football program under Gilbert Arenas’ Underdog Fantasy banner.

The roles have flipped. In 2012, Bayless held the leverage. Now, Smith does. Thus, it’s fair to wonder whether Bayless feels Smith owes him. That sentiment would be understandable.

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A full-time reunion seems unlikely. Smith has made it clear he values "First Take" as his show, one where he controls the rotating cast of contributors. Last year, he said bringing Bayless back full-time would be unfair to current regulars like Cam Newton, Ryan Clark, Kendrick Perkins and Marcus Spears. Put simply, Smith isn't giving up his role as kingmaker to share a platform with Bayless.

There is, however, a middle ground. Smith could maintain his rotating format while giving Bayless a recurring slot, similar to Chris "Mad Dog" Russo’s weekly appearances. A move like this could also help "First Take," a show that is struggling to keep pace in growth with the ESPN programs that precede and follow it.

The show has grown stale and needs some reinvention.

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Adding Bayless back to the show, even in a limited role, makes sense for all parties. We suspect Smith understands that.

As self-absorbed as Smith is, his respect for Bayless is profound. He has acknowledged on several occasions that he would not be where he is today without Skip Bayless.

If anyone feels he owes Bayless, it is Stephen A. himself.

Top 3 moments in Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless' reunion on First Take

Fri, 08 May 2026 14:47:22 -0400

After about a 10-year hiatus, Skip Bayless was back on ESPN’s First Take battling against his familiar foe, Stephen A. Smith.

From debating where LeBron James ranks on the list of all-time NBA greats, to Smith making fun of Bayless’ favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, to rehashing old debates, the reunion was a roller coaster ride that brought us all back to a time when this show was still outlandish, yet watchable.

Was Tim Tebow a Bust?

Skip Bayless, who believes he’s rarely been wrong throughout his television career, and never lost a debate to Stephen A., said he was right about Tim Tebow being a success in the NFL. Throughout the years, many critics considered Bayless "obsessed" with Tebow and some even considered his advocacy of the former Heisman winner a "shtick," which he’s denied. Smith believed part of the reason the two hosts were in hot water with their bosses years ago was because of Bayless’ incessant coverage of the quarterback, so naturally, they brought it up in the reunion.

SKIP BAYLESS TO REUNITE WITH STEPHEN A. SMITH ON ESPN AS FIRST TAKE'S RATINGS SLIP

Bayless doubled down on his claim that Tebow was a successful NFL QB and not a bust. Bayless even called Tim Tebow’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to give the Denver Broncos a 29-23 AFC Wild Card playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, "the greatest overtime touchdown pass in the history of the National football league."

Bayless is too prideful and blinded by his love of Tebow to admit he wasn’t a success in the NFL and his constant use of Tebow’s Wild Card win as an example of success is a weak argument in my opinion. The man was a phenomenal college quarterback who only played three seasons in the NFL. Let's be honest. He was a bust.

STEPHEN A SMITH IS UPSET OVER AN OUTKICK ARTICLE ABOUT 'FIRST TAKE'S' RATINGS

Skip's Dallas Cowboys and Stephen A.'s New York Knicks Fandom

One of the most heated, lively aspects of the Smith vs. Bayless rivalry was the constant poking fun of the Dallas Cowboys’ lack of success. Smith, though he is no longer debating Bayless about this every football season, still loves to make fun of Bayless’ favorite football team and relishes in their shortcomings online and in studio.

Bayless passionately stated during the segment discussing Smith’s Knicks fandom and Bayless’ Cowboys fandom, "You for years and years have constantly ridiculed my Dallas Cowboys." He even admitted that Smith had "often been right" in his assessment of their failings.

ESPN STAR GETTING 'VERY, VERY WORRIED' ABOUT JERRY JONES, HAS JOE BIDEN IN MIND

This is where Bayless lowered the boom on Smith’s New York Knicks. "Since 1973, you have not won a championship," Bayless proclaimed proudly. "Since 1973, my Cowboys have actually been to six Super Bowls and won four of them. I would much rather be a Cowboys fan than a Knicks fan."

To that, Smith responded, "The difference between New York Knicks fans and Dallas Cowboys fans is that when we sucked, we knew it, we admitted it, we acknowledged it." Touché.

Smith then humorously highlighted how Skip Bayless has crashed out over the years due to Cowboys’ playoff collapses and other failings by throwing jerseys and other merchandise away.

STEPHEN A SMITH MAKES BOLD CLAIMS ON COWBOYS, DAK PRESCOTT'S MVP HOPES AMID TEAM'S OFFENSIVE SURGE

Truly, this was one of the best parts of today’s show. It’s fun because it feels like bar talk between argumentative friends who get lost in their fandom, trying at all costs to get under the skin of their opponent and trump their argumentation. It’s relatable to the average fan.

Skip Bayless' LeBron James Ranking

If you’ve kept up with Smith and Bayless over the years, you knew a LeBron James GOAT conversation would be on the table for today’s reunion. What you might not have expected was how low Bayless had LeBron on his top-10 list of all-time NBA greats.

Bayless had LeBron all the way at #9 on his list. Smith’s reaction was priceless. Hand on his chin, leaning to the right side of his chair, staring off to the ends of the studio behind the camera, rolling his eyes in disbelief like he’s done many times over the years in response to Bayless’ outrageous claims. Smith’s initial vocal reaction before Bayless tried to substantiate his claim was, "For the audience to have to be subjected to this drivel that’s about to come out of your mouth… You got me defending LeBron James. NINTH?! NINE?!"

MICHAEL WILBON REVEALS JORDAN'S TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT LEBRON

After the two quickly agreed that "Michael Jeffrey Jordan" was the unquestionable greatest player in NBA history, Bayless shared the eight players he has ranked ahead of James.

Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Tim Duncan
Bill Russell
Kobe Bryant
Larry Bird

LeBron James was at 9 and Wilt Chamberlain was at 10.

Bayless’ reasoning was that the eight players ranked ahead of James were "cold-blooded basketball killers, who I would trust with games for my life" and added, "LeBron James, to me, has proven over many, many years to be the most mentally fragile superstar I have ever closely observed. I mean, the poor man, as gifted as he is, was born without a clutch gene." Smith could only continue to look disgusted, leaning on the large studio desk, speechless.

LEBRON JAMES' FORMER TEAMMATE EXPLAINS WHY IT 'SUCKS' PLAYING WITH HIM

Bayless unsurprisingly noted LeBron’s 4-6 NBA Finals record, his poor three-point and free-throw shooting, especially in late-game, clutch situations, and after Skip stated his four greatest NBA players, Smith shouted, "This is blasphemy!"

What Bayless did crown LeBron was "longevity GOAT’, claiming, as many objective observers would, "He’s the most durable player in the history of sports."

CLAY TRAVIS, STEPHEN A SMITH SET FOR DEBATE AT FRONT OFFICE SPORTS' MEDIA SUMMIT

What ESPN did here with this reunion was similar to what Disneyland Parks did recently with Star Wars land. They leaned on nostalgia and went back to familiar characters, who draw an audience. Disney went back to Han Solo, Princess Leia and Darth Vader. ESPN went back to the dynamic duo of Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith. While Bayless and Smith aren’t a mainstay like those old Star Wars characters will be, they highlight how things have changed over the decade. Are any of these ESPN shows better than they were a decade ago? Is Star Wars better? I hope you get the point.

No doubt, this reunion will be proven to have drawn big numbers when the viewership is revealed. It’s caused quite the stir on social media, with personalities like Clay Travis weighing in, saying First Take should have Bayless on during the NFL season.

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith are two sides of the same coin. They both say ridiculous stuff, bend over backwards to substantiate their claims, and undoubtedly, have some of the best chemistry in the history of sports television. At times it felt like a sequel to a movie that didn’t actually need a sequel, relying heavily on callbacks, but I found it an enjoyable watch.

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ESPN had Rich Eisen return to ESPN to host SportsCenter from the Bristol, Conn., headquarters for the first time in over 20 years on Sunday, April 12, 2026, so they obviously are testing the waters on nostalgia and doing their best to draw audiences back to the network.

We’ll see if this was just a one-off or if this is some sort of comeback tour for Bayless. I’m with Clay Travis. Bring him back. It’ll be much more entertaining than the race-baiting from Ryan Clark.

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown tells ESPN's Stephen A Smith to 'be quiet and retire'

Thu, 07 May 2026 17:28:46 -0400

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to having beef with NBA stars. It's time to add Celtics guard Jaylen Brown to the list.

The latest dust-up started, naturally, on "First Take," where Smith took aim at Brown for his comments following Boston's playoff collapse.

Brown recently said this was his "favorite year," despite the Celtics blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers and getting eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. That didn't sit well with Smith, who made it very clear Thursday that he thought Brown should have kept that to himself.

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"You got knocked out in the first round," Smith said. "The Boston Celtics, one of the top two most storied franchises, if not the most storied franchise in the history of basketball, lost a 3-1 lead for the first time in its postseason history."

Smith's issue wasn't just that Brown said it. It was the timing.

Boston had just been eliminated, Jayson Tatum was dealing with an Achilles injury and Brown was out there saying this season was his favorite.

"Twenty-four hours after losing a 3-1 lead and [he] says this was his favorite year," Smith continued. "[They lost] three games at home. Three games at home."

Smith then brought up Brown's relationship with Tatum, noting that Tatum had appeared on "First Take" butFirst Take but hadn't appeared on Brown's Twitch stream.

"So in other words, Jayson Tatum showed up on First Take before he showed up on your damn show," Smith said. "How? How?"

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Then came the line that set Brown off.

"The first order of business is that he needs to be quiet and... go on vacation unless you're trying to get traded," Smith said.

Brown didn't wait long to respond.

"I'll ‘be quiet' / stop streaming if you ‘be quiet' and retire let's give the people what they want," Brown wrote on X.

The post quickly went viral.

Brown didn't just push back on Smith's basketball criticism. He essentially told ESPN's biggest personality that America has heard enough and that it might be time to hang up the microphone.

Smith, obviously, wasn't going to let that go without firing back.

"Bro, I got love for you so I'm not going to even go there," Smith wrote on X. "Folks are looking out for you and you don't even realize it. Here you are making this kind of noise and it hasn't even been a week since you lost a 3-1 lead. You're HOME."

Then Smith drove the point home.

"A champion and a Finals MVP saying his favorite season is the season he's home in the FIRST ROUND. This is not about ME. It's about YOU….and what YOU SAID. Enjoy your offseason."

To be fair to Smith, the basketball point is obvious.

Brown is allowed to feel however he wants about his season. Maybe he enjoyed the challenge. Maybe he liked the chemistry the team built. Maybe he thinks everyone is misunderstanding what he meant.

But when you're a Finals MVP on the Boston Celtics and your team just blew a 3-1 lead in the first round, saying it was your favorite season isn't going to sit well with a lot of people and probably not with many Celtics fans.

That's especially true when the franchise had never blown a 3-1 lead in the playoffs before and the team was the No. 2 seed in the East. Boston is just the fourth No. 2 seed to lose in the first round in the past 25 years. In other words: it was an inexplicable and historic collapse for a team with championship aspirations. That doesn't usually lead to players calling it their "favorite" season.

At the same time, it's easy to see why Brown's response immediately picked up steam among social media users.

Smith has made a career out of telling athletes what they should say, what they shouldn't say, when they should talk and when they should disappear. Eventually, one of those athletes was going to tell him the same thing back.

That's exactly what Brown did.

And now Smith has another NBA feud on his hands. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have all had public back-and-forths with Smith over the years. Brown is just the latest star to decide he didn't want to sit quietly while Stephen A. turned him into a topic.

Unfortunately for Brown, this benefits Smith much more than it benefits Brown. Smith's public feuds with major NBA stars only serve to advance the notion that Smith is worth responding to. Indirectly, Brown is telling Smith that he matters (not that Smith needs anyone to tell him that).

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Obviously, Stephen A. Smith isn't retiring because Jaylen Brown told him to. And he's certainly not going to stop screaming into a microphone any time soon.

But for at least one afternoon, Brown said what plenty of athletes (and probably plenty of sports fans) have wanted to say to Smith for years.

Be quiet.

Stephen A Smith is upset over an OutKick article about 'First Take's' ratings

Tue, 05 May 2026 20:03:53 -0400

Stephen A. Smith is not happy about an OutKick article published this week about his reunion with Skip Bayless scheduled for later this week.

"Instead of just celebrating Skip Bayless coming back to 'First Take' for the day, I’m seeing articles here on 91��, Awful Announcing, along with others, and it’s talking about ratings slip," Smith said on his radio show Tuesday.

He is referencing a column for OutKick published the day prior that 91�� placed on its homepage, titled "Skip Bayless to reunite with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN as First Take's ratings slip."

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Smith continued, "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, that’s not going to happen, because how many records can you break?"

Ratings slip, indeed.

We mentioned that most of ESPN's daily studio programming is experiencing double-digit growth. Smith's "First Take" is the exception. ESPN recently published a press release touting that "Get Up" is up 18% and "The Pat McAfee Show" is up 16%. "First Take" airs directly between the two programs and is up just 5%, which falls below the standard Big Data + Panel bump.

NBA PLAYOFFS RATINGS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED

We also noted that "First Take" is not only the only program not showing large growth, but also the one that has continued to discuss political, social and racial topics. That hardly seems like a coincidence.

OutKick can also tell you firsthand that ESPN executives have taken notice of "First Take's" stagnant viewership. Considering they recently signed Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract, the lack of growth is a concern. ESPN didn’t pay Smith for what he has done, but for what he is expected to do over the next half-decade.

During the rant, Stephen A. again touted that he is "still No. 1." We have asked him about this claim previously. It doesn't make sense.

"First Take" is not the top show in its time slot, not even close. For example, the 91�� Channel more than triples the show head-to-head. Smith's show is also not No. 1 at ESPN. "PTI" is.

In actuality, "First Take" is only the No. 1 sports show in its time slot. That's it. And that's hardly worth bragging about.

See, every ESPN show is the top-rated sports show in its time slot. There is no other sports network on cable that is competitive. By this metric, even "High Noon with Bomani Jones" was the top show before its cancellation. And his ratings were putrid.

Now, to Bayless' return.

Smith is right that it has been nearly a decade since they appeared together on television. Next month will mark 10 years since Bayless departed ESPN for FS1. Yet what Smith isn't telling you is why it has been so long.

Bayless' last show on FS1 was almost two years ago. He has expressed interest in reuniting with Smith on several occasions. Smith also said on Tuesday that Bayless jumped at the offer to return.

So, what took so long? The answer is Stephen A. Until now, he hasn’t wanted Bayless to return. He said no publicly, beginning with the week after Bayless left FS1 and lost his platform on television.

"Regarding Skip Bayless, ESPN did not consult with me," Smith said about ESPN putting out a statement that it had no interest in bringing Bayless back in 2024. "They didn’t have to.

"But in fairness, and in the interest of transparency, had they asked me, I would have said the same thing that ESPN said. Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, together as partners, working across from each other on a debate show, is over. It’s been over. And this is not the first time I’ve said it. There’s no negativity or shade being thrown on Skip Bayless. I have moved on."

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That part is correct. Smith has said many times before that he did not want to bring Bayless back to "First Take."

Then his ratings began to slip.

Finally, Stephen A. told me directly last November in a text exchange that he was "done" talking to me and reading my columns. Apparently, that is not the case.

Perhaps he would be interested in discussing his issues further. I will offer him a chance to do so privately and on OutKick. We hope he considers.

Skip Bayless to reunite with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN as First Take's ratings slip

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:48:37 -0400

For the first time in nearly a decade, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith will debate each other on ESPN’s "First Take" this Friday.

On Monday, the network announced Bayless will join Smith for a "one-time reunion" in Los Angeles. Bayless last appeared on the show in June 2016, before leaving ESPN for FS1.

The dynamics this time are different. "First Take" used to be Bayless’ show. He personally asked Smith to join him as a full-time debate partner in 2012. At the time, Smith had just returned to ESPN as a radio host and did not have a television platform. Today, Smith is one of the biggest names in sports media, while Bayless no longer has a television show after leaving FS1 in 2024. He is now a contributor to Gilbert Arenas’ YouTube platform.

SPORTS MEDIA RACE-BAITERS ARE ALREADY TAKING NIKOLA JOKIC CRITICISM TOO FAR

Notice the wording ESPN used to promote Bayless’ appearance, calling it a "one-time reunion." That phrasing appears to shut down speculation that Bayless could return to "First Take" as a full-time host or a weekly contributor, like Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

Still, Smith previously said he had moved on and had no interest in reuniting with Bayless. Plans and visions change.

As OutKick reported last month, most of ESPN’s shows are up double digits year over year. It is no coincidence that this surge coincided with the network toning down political and racial dialogue. However, "First Take" is the outlier.

"Get Up" airs directly before "First Take" and is up 18%. "The Pat McAfee Show," which follows "First Take," is up 16%. And yet, "First Take" is up just 5%, which falls below the standard Big Data + Panel bump.

In an industry where showing growth is paramount, ESPN management and Smith are certainly aware of "First Take’s" trends.

They hope Bayless can provide a much-needed bump, but we aren't so sure he will.

Bayless is no longer the needle mover he was when he left ESPN 10 years ago. Near the end of his run at FS1, "Undisputed" averaged just 30,000 viewers. He also recently stopped recording "The Skip Bayless Show" podcast, which drew only a few thousand views per episode on YouTube.

Further, Bayless cannot be the answer if Smith is the problem.

Since signing a record $100 million contract last year, Smith has appeared increasingly uninterested in the content. His rants are often predictable, repetitive and riddled with errors. Over the past year, he has repeatedly misidentified players or discussed players and coaches who are no longer active.

Perhaps Smith’s political commentary has become a distraction for him. If so, he should no longer host a daily two-hour sports debate show on ESPN.

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Skip Bayless will not change that. If anything, known for his obsessive preparation, Bayless will further highlight Smith’s lack of command of current sports topics and make him look worse.

In other moves to boost viewership for "First Take," ESPN says rapper Cam’ron on May 5 and comedian Kid Mero on May 7 will also debate Smith next week.

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For now, Bayless is excited for his return.

"CAN’T WAIT FOR FRIDAY," he posted on X. "MORE SOON."

Shilo Sanders doubles down on 'make me a sandwich' insult to female Browns reporter

Sat, 02 May 2026 15:47:12 -0400

Shilo Sanders isn’t doing his brother, Shedeur, any favors with his recent insults aimed at Cleveland Browns female reporter, Mary Kay Cabot.

In case you missed it, Shilo made what many are calling a misogynistic comment on an Instagram video of Cabot urging the Browns to make Deshaun Watson QB1 over Shedeur. Cabot, who has been covering the Browns since 1988, said, "I think they should declare [Watson] QB1 asap and let the first-team offense start to cook." She added, "There’s no time to waste."

In response, Shilo said, "Go make a sandwich Mary."

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Rightfully so, the comment made a lot of buzz, which I think is not only detrimental to Shedeur, but showcases how many of his supporters have acted when it comes to criticism. There’s no better example than Shilo discussing the controversy he started, doubling down on his comments while streaming on Twitch.

"This is to Mary Kay," Shilo started his rant. "If you’re gonna be a reporter, then report facts. Whenever you have your opinion, and your opinion is always something hateful to Sheduer, then it seems like there’s something weird. Like there’s an agenda you have going on."

Shilo said the quiet part out loud, in my opinion. He’s claiming, like many other fans, and even those in the media, that any criticism of Shedeur is "hateful" and has some sort of sinister "agenda" behind it. When he says "agenda", it’s hard for me not to assume he isn’t talking about racism, because that has been the claim since Shedeur fell in the 2025 NFL Draft.

ESPN’s Ryan Clark stated before the draft, "It is about the fact that the color of his skin sometimes at the position can be questioned."

Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson said the NFL wanted to "make an example out of [Shedeur]" claiming he was told by a source that "The NFL… told other [teams] don’t draft him."

SHILO SANDERS MAKES ‘SANDWICH’ COMMENT TO FEMALE UNDER VIDEO CRITICIZING BROTHER SHEDEUR

Skip Bayless claimed "it smells of racist undertones" and that there are "too many white people in charge in this league", when it came to Shedeur falling to the fifth round of the Draft.

Heck, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who just loves to say outlandish, unsubstantiated things and put his foot in his mouth, claimed Shedeur was being blackballed similar to Colin Kaepernick stating on X, "This kid is a first rounder. In a different way, this is Kaepernick all over again…..being kept out. A damn disgrace. I don’t care what anyone says!"

Former NFL MVP and frequent guest host on ESPN’s First Take, Cam Newton made an outrageous claim that the Browns head coach (at the time) was sabotaging Shedeur. "I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I do not think Kevin Stefanski wants Shedeur Sanders to succeed in Cleveland," Newton pronounced.

This list goes on and on, but you should get the point.. Shedeur’s brother, many in the media and countless fans online want the sports world to believe that the NFL, some in media, and coaches are conspiring against Shedeur, hence the "agenda". They also claim that criticism is, more often than not, "hateful." That’s weak, unfounded, and illogical.

The fans are even worse online. That’s why I like to compare Shedeur Sanders’ fans to Angel Reese fans. They claim, or at very least insinuate, that any and all criticism of each player has some sort of racist, micro-aggressive undertone to it. They want the sports world to believe they are perpetual victims of a foundational prejudice within an unfair system, in my opinion. I call nonsense.

What Shilo Sanders is doing is refusing to face the facts, while hypocritically telling Cabot to stick to the facts in her reporting.

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Here are the cold, hard facts. Out of 42 eligible NFL quarterbacks in the 2025 season, Shedeur Sanders ranked 41st in passer rating. Sanders threw more interceptions than touchdowns. He had the fifth-worst QBR since QBR became a stat in 2026, making it the worst QBR of any Browns QB with at least six starts IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE. Sheduer showed flashes, but he performed poorly overall. The fact that he was named to the Pro Bowl put the nail in the coffin of that game and his addition made a mockery of that accolade.

This season, Shedeur is not a shoo-in for QB1, and his poor performance in his rookie season is to blame. Additionally, comments and controversies like this involving his family, only make Shedeur a bigger distraction than he has been in the past.

Shilo went on to state, "There’s plenty of women in this field that take this serious and take reporting football serious and actually do homework and study the game, get the statistics right, and get the news right. But with you, there’s so much emotion." Then Shilo wrapped up his ironically emotional rant by stating, "We don’t care what you think is gonna happen… For all the women that actually take the time to do their research and actually be real reporters, and real journalists, then that’s gonna make them look bad."

Shilo will only accept praise of his brother from media. Any criticism puts the credibility of the journalist in question. That’s ridiculous, especially based on the facts of Shedeur’s play.

Cabot didn’t take the bait and instead, took the high road in response to Shilo’s sandwich comment saying she believes she’s "an inspiration for lots of women and young girls that you can go out there and do a good job in man’s world."

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Cabot commented further on Cleveland sports radio 92.3 The Fan saying, "And I know that there are so many women who have joined the football world, especially because of some of the things that I’ve been able to do over the years… I’m just happy that I have been able to help set the tone and open some doors in that way, and I know that will continue, and that’s just how I feel about that."

Shilo should do his brother a favor and use some discernment before he makes any more comments that inevitably will make Shedeur even more of a distraction and a talking point for the media than he already is. But, I wouldn’t count on it.

Stephen A Smith says he argued with Michael Jordan about whether NASCAR drivers are athletes

Fri, 01 May 2026 21:00:56 -0400

Stephen A. Smith saying that NASCAR drivers are not athletes has been one of my favorite stories for quite some time.

You've got someone giving a demonstrably incorrect hot take, and then just digging their heels in.

It's everything that's both great and terrible about sports media rolled up in a single package.

NASCAR DRIVER WHO WAS LEFT BLOODIED FROM HORRIFYING DAYTONA CRASH HAS HARSH WORDS FOR STEPHEN A. SMITH

But, I thought if there was one person who could break through to Stephen A. and point to the mountain of evidence why NASCAR drivers — and racing drivers in general — are not just athletes, but high-level, highly trained athletes, it would be Michael Jordan.

But I would be mistaken.

Stephen A. has been called out on this take by drivers like Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, who brought his own in-car fitness tracking info as proof. So, Smith, being the savvy media personality he is, took this to his show.

That's when, according to Awful Announcing, he got a call from his Airness.

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Now, if you didn't know, Jordan is a longtime NASCAR fan and co-owns one of the sport's hottest teams right now, 23XI Racing, with current Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.

Surely, he could talk some sense into Stephen A.

"You know who wanted to correct me about the NASCAR thing? Michael Jordan," Smith said on his SiriusXM. "Michael Jordan. I argued with him! Because that’s how I feel! I’m being honest. That’s how I feel. That’s all, it’s not a crime. That’s what makes radio and sports talk."

All right, so not at all.

I mean, people are entitled to their opinions, but when someone goes, "Here are several dozen reasons and examples why you're wrong," and you stick to your guns, you're just being difficult.

But remember, it is Stephen A. who is under attack through all of this.

"Don’t you notice what we call the gang mentality?" Smith asked. "Where everybody in my line of work jumps on popular opinion so they are lumped in with the vast majority of people who feel the way they feel? That’s easy. The hard part is, ‘this is where I stand, and I genuinely feel this way, and here’s why.’"

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NASCAR drivers being athletes isn't a popular opinion.

It just is.

Stephen A Smith could get an on-screen WWE role at SummerSlam, reports say

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:02:52 -0400

Fans joked that WWE’s landmark rights deal with ESPN last year would lead to Stephen A. Smith appearing in the ring. That idea is no longer just a joke or social media meme.

According to Fightful Select, a source known for reporting accurate wrestling information, there are discussions about giving Smith an on-screen role this summer.

The report says ESPN is "pleased and enthusiastic" about the potential for Smith to get more involved in the partnership.

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Notably, Smith is represented by Mark Shapiro, the president of WWE parent company TKO. WWE president Nick Khan is also Smith’s former broadcast agent. The TKO and ESPN relationship has already led to an in-storied crossover, with Pat McAfee's involvement in the WrestleMania storyline between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

McAfee, who works with TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, says he is done with WWE as part of the stipulation if Orton loses.

If McAfee is actually done with WWE, Smith would be a logical replacement. By most metrics, McAfee and Smith are the two biggest stars at ESPN and its most pro-wrestling-style personalities.

McAfee was a natural fit. He excelled on the WWE broadcast booth, on the mic as a manager and even in the ring as a wrestler. It is unclear whether Smith would have the same success.

WWE COMMEMORATES CM PUNK'S RETURN WITH BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO: 'HAPPY YOU'RE HERE'

That said, he was loudly booed at WrestleMania this month in Las Vegas. In wrestling, boos are just as effective as cheers. If Smith leans into a heel role similar to McAfee, he could have a fun run in WWE.

Look for SummerSlam as a possible date for Smith's debut.

SummerSlam is the second biggest WWE event of the year after WrestleMania and is also held over two nights. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on ESPN.

Possible roles for Smith include a storyline, hosting duties or entertainment segments with comedic wrestler and merchandise megastar Danhausen, who recently "cursed" the ESPN broadcaster.

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As tired as many viewers are of seeing Stephen A. Smith discuss sports and politics, the idea of him appearing in WWE is fun. Hopefully, he takes a bump or two, or even a spear from Roman Reigns.

ESPN loses sole executive who cracked down on political, racial rhetoric

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:48:45 -0400

OutKick recently credited ESPN for its turnaround. Its daily studio lineup was up 14% year over year during the first quarter of 2026. The network has also slowly parted ways with most of its far-left race idolaters.

However, the executive behind the turnaround is leaving. On Thursday, the network announced that Executive Vice President David Roberts will retire at the end of August.

"This has been both a real honor and a blessing to work for and with the most talented people in the industry," Roberts said in a press release. "I am extremely humbled and grateful to have had the opportunities afforded me as a member of the ESPN leadership team. It has been simply an awesome 22 years."

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For background, it was Roberts who canceled most of the politically and racially driven programming that sank ESPN’s reputation in recent years. He was behind the cancellations of "SC6" with Jemele Hill, "The Right Time" with Bomani Jones, "High Noon" with Bomani Jones, Clinton Yates’ little radio show, and "Around the Horn."

Roberts is also the reason ESPN did not re-sign Hill, Bomani, Yates, Mark Jones, Sarah Spain, Max Kellerman, Jalen Rose and Keith Olbermann.

(For those looking to mock the person behind re-signing Olbermann, look up the name Norby Williamson.)

While the White bosses at ESPN governed with a deep fear of baseless racial backlash, Roberts did not. As multiple on-air talents have told OutKick over the past four years, Roberts did not care what color someone was or how they leaned politically. He put the best people on television and removed the people the audience rejected.

Unfortunately, judging talent by their, well, talent is a rare trait in management.

Roberts let the viewers decide who would be a star and who would not. His predecessors, like Connor Schell, let social media and CAA make those decisions for them.

ESPN listed some of Roberts' accomplishments in the announcement:

The 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt and the Saturday morning edition all had their highest first quarter viewership ever in Q1 2026.
Launching of the 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. editions of SportsCenter, with the 2 p.m. edition having its best Q1 viewership ever this year.
SportsCenter 50 States in 50 Days, which brought ESPN’s signature news and information show to all 50 states during the summer of 2025.
Rich Eisen’s return to ESPN with his weekday program on ESPN+, Disney+ and ESPN Radio, and hosting special editions of SportsCenter.

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In one of the riskier moves of his tenure, Roberts made a star out of Will Cain. In 2016, he put Cain on television opposite Stephen A. Smith on "First Take" to provide a conservative balance to the conversation. It worked.

Cain is now one of the highest-rated talk show hosts on television with a daily 91�� program, "The Will Cain Show". He landed a one-on-one interview with Vice President JD Vance this week. That would not have happened if Roberts had not first put him in a high-profile role. Roberts put Cain on the radar of 91�� and others.

And again, he did not favor Cain because he was conservative. He did it because Cain was good on television. Sources say Roberts also championed personalities like Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Shannon Sharpe, Rich Eisen, Brian Windhorst, and Mike Greenberg, none of whom share many political opinions with Cain.

We would argue that the Stephen A. experiment should end at this point. "First Take" is the only show part of ESPN's daily lineup not experiencing significant growth. The general public appears sick of him. Jason Whitlock has raised valid questions about the legitimacy of the stories Smith tells in his memoir. He has been unable to defend his stories against Whitlock. Still, Stephen A. was ultimately the biggest draw at the network for most of Roberts’ run.

Without Roberts in charge, expect the political and racial buffoonery to creep back into the conversation at ESPN. Commentators like Ryan Clark and Kendrick Perkins will feel freer to push more irresponsible, divisive rhetoric. They know their bosses will be too fearful to stop them.

While Roberts may have already made up his mind, ESPN should have tried harder to keep him, at least for a while longer. Not having him on staff with the 2026 midterms approaching will be troubling.

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ESPN says Mike Foss will fill Roberts’ duties. Prediction: he will cave the moment he is tasked with asking someone to take down a political tweet or stop referencing Trump on television.

Finding competent television executives with a backbone is no easy task. Most of them just want to fit in and avoid confrontation. They lack vision. They are followers by nature. Look at the state of CNN and MSNBC. Look at the mess ESPN made under the guidance of former president John Skipper.

Dave Roberts is a big loss for ESPN. We suspect viewers will notice a change, one that will ruin most of the newfound momentum ESPN is experiencing.

Follow Bobby Burack on X.

Stephen A Smith blames PGA Tour for LIV Golf saga, moronically says defectors shouldn't face any punishment

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:18:02 -0400

It's not often we hear Stephen A. Smith weigh in on anything golf-related, and after hearing his reaction to the Saudis pulling their funding of LIV Golf, we should all be incredibly thankful for that.

On Thursday, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) officially announced that it would be cutting ties with LIV at the end of the 2026 season after investing billions into the breakaway circuit. Among the many questions to follow is what it means for the players who left the PGA Tour to join LIV, who will presumably be seeking to jump back on Tour.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has hinted that the path back for defectors will be far from straight and clear. While we are likely months away from knowing any firm details, Smith has an idea of what should be required of players in order for them to return to the Tour: absolutely nothing.

INEVITABLE OUTCOME ARRIVES FOR LIV GOLF AS SAUDIS OFFICIALLY PULL PLUG ON FUNDING

Smith believes that the only figure to blame in this entire, ridiculous saga is the PGA Tour, therefore, it should welcome back players with wide-open arms.

"If the PGA decides to punish these golfers, we should be all — excuse my language — we should stay in their a-- like white on rice. They should not be punishing anybody. It was their negligence, their abuse, their taking golfers for granted that forced the existence of LIV to begin with," Smith said on Thursday's edition of 'First Take.'

"The players didn’t want to leave the PGA. They were forced to because they were looking for better opportunities based on how they were treated. And we know this because the PGA stepped in afterward, once LIV came into existence, and expressed a willingness to make modifications. They knew they had done the players wrong."

"All they wanted was to be treated better," Smith continued. "And the PGA stuck their nose up like the arrogant people that they were, and they mistreated these guys. Now that this is going away, supposedly, and these players from LIV are looking to come back, I don’t want to hear anything about punishment.

Smith is making it sound as if before LIV Golf came along, players on the PGA Tour were playing for a limited supply of food stamps and traveling around the country week after week as hitchhikers.

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Phil Mickelson earned $96 million on the PGA Tour before leaving for LIV Golf. Dustin Johnson earned nearly $76 million, Sergio Garcia made more than $55 million and Bubba Watson was just shy of $49 million in PGA Tour earnings before jumping ship.

Smith is absolutely correct in saying that players left the Tour looking for better opportunities, but those opportunities had absolutely nothing to do with legacy or the fabric of the sport in general. The opportunity was to make more money, and for stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, to become generationally wealthy with nine-figure contracts.

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As for Smith's comment about the PGA Tour making "modifications" after players left, well, of course it did, because it had to. The Tour, a nonprofit organization, was suddenly facing a foe being funded by the Saudi PIF valued at over $1 trillion.

LIV Golf undoubtedly forced the PGA Tour to evolve and change its operations to better benefit players, specifically the top-end talent. Smith didn't just say that; he went to bat for a Saudi regime with a record of human rights atrocities that decided to throw blank checks at players to disrupt professional golf.

Stephen A Smith refuses to back down from LeBron James feud, calls courtside confrontation unfair

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:37:24 -0400

If you’re looking for a warm-and-fuzzy reconciliation between the King and the Screaming A. Smith, don’t hold your breath.

The latest chapter in the LeBron versus Stephen A. Smith saga just dropped on Logan Paul’s "Impaulsive" podcast, and Smith brought a flamethrower.

Speaking with the Paul brother, Smith made it clear that LeBron’s attempt to paint him as someone who attacks children was a bridge too far.

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"It was very disrespectful. I thought it was very unfair to me. I never did what he implied that I did. That was my issue," Smith told Paul. "It was clear when he rolled up on me that he thought I went after his son to get at him because I critique him. I would never do that. I wouldn’t go after somebody’s kid. I would never do that. To paint that narrative just because you don’t like the fact I don’t view you as the GOAT really pissed me off."

For those who spent 2025 living under a rock, LeBron James hijacked a Lakers vs. Knicks game with a courtside confrontation where James hurled some NSFW words at the ESPN host.

Smith had previously delivered a rant about Bronny's NBA qualifications, and LeBron seemed to think Smith was picking on a kid to get at the father.

NBA LEGEND CHIDES LAKERS FOR HOW THEY'VE HANDLED BRONNY JAMES: 'IT'S A BAD LOOK'

Smith’s theory is that LeBron is playing a PR game.

By making it about his son, LeBron wins sympathy from casual fans.

But Smith is making it a point of personal honor. He isn’t backing down from the idea that he can critique a professional athlete, even a bench jockey like Bronny.

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On the bright side for Smith, he's still getting paid millions to scream into a camera and show up courtside to stir drama.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Michael Wilbon reveals Jordan's true feelings about LeBron

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:22:34 -0400

No one in sports media is more connected to both Michael Jordan and LeBron James than Michael Wilbon. According to Wilbon, the perception of their rivalry is not what it seems.

Wilbon appeared on "First Take" on Wednesday and described how Jordan used to tell people at ESPN to ease up on James for not winning a championship early in his career.

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"It took LeBron seven years to win a championship, like it took Michael," Wilbon said. "I remember having a conversation with Michael after James lost to the Celtics in the 2020 playoffs. Michael said, 'Hey, take it easy on this kid.' And Michael had a list of things he really liked about LeBron James."

"If people think Jordan has somehow resented LeBron, they're wrong."

MICHAEL WILBON OPENS UP TO OUTKICK ABOUT LEBRON JAMES, STEPHEN A. SMITH, WINDHORST, & MORE

The segment covered an ESPN profile on James as his career winds down. In the interview, James discussed choosing to wear No. 23 in homage to his childhood idol.

"I hope I made him proud at least, wearing that No. 23," James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Despite how James viewed Jordan during his playing career, talk shows framed the two against each other for most of James' prime. Skip Bayless built a career debating LeBron versus Jordan at nearly every stage of James' run.

EXCLUSIVE: MICHAEL WILBON TALKS WASHINGTON POST LAYOFFS, AI AND FUTURE OF SPORTS JOURNAL

LeBron vs. Jordan defined the "hot take" era of sports media. It elevated not only Bayless but also Stephen A. Smith, Nick Wright, Colin Cowherd and Shannon Sharpe.

The debate was largely symbolic. There is no literal greatest of all time. It is not a real title. Still, fans embraced it, engaging and arguing about it across social media.

Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career. His move to the Lakers signaled a shift away from chasing Jordan's six championships, though he won a fourth title in his second season in Los Angeles.

ANGEL REESE 'NOT THE VILLAIN' IN CAITLIN CLARK NARRATIVE, JEMELE HILL SAYS AMID GROWING WNBA RIVALRY

James also became a more polarizing figure around 2018 as he leaned into political, social and racial issues. That shift coincided with declining viewership for his games.

By comparison, Jordan preached, "Republicans buy sneakers too." Jordan appealed to all sports fans. James cut his appeal in half through his criticism of Donald Trump, support for BLM and defense of the Chinese Communist Party.

Between Jordan's apolitical bona fides and six rings, the public has made a decision: Jordan is greater than LeBron.

Still, as Wilbon reports, the debate never drove Jordan or James as much as it did the media and the audience. That context matters as James approaches the final stage of his career. Regardless of what you think of James as a person, he is one of the greatest American athletes of all time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Case in point: He has led the Lakers to a 3-1 series lead over the Rockets at 41-years-old, while his co-stars are out with injury.

If you enjoy Michael Wilbon's insights, he spoke with OutKick twice in the past year. You can read those interviews here: Part 1 and Part 2.

Stephen A Smith escalates feud with NASCAR with insufferable two-word suggestion

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:28:08 -0400

Stephen A. Smith is confused that NASCAR drivers are angry at him because he mocked them last week in one of his predictable podcast rants.

Weird, I know. I can't believe they'd fire back after that! I figured they'd just stay quiet because, after all, it's Stephen A. Smith. Precious, popular, untouchable Stephen A. Smith.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

For those who missed it, the "First Take" host hopped on his little podcast and took a dump on NASCAR drivers after one caller insisted Richard Petty belonged in some sort of discussion he was having about LeBron James.

Yes, Stephen A. was talking about LeBron. Stunning.

"Come on, man. That don’t count. You driving a car!" Smith told Jay from Greensboro. "I’m being honest, it’s a great sport. But come on, bro. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the same. You can be behind the wheel of a car in your 60s and 70s for crying out loud. A golfer is not an athlete. A NASCAR driver is not an athlete."

It's not a new debate, by the way. This comes up every few years, and everyone gets all flustered every few years. I've seen it a dozen times in my life.

Anyway, Joey Logano — also known as a two-time Cup champion and future Hall of Famer — stuffed Stephen A. in a locker last weekend at Talladega, saying he only made those comments because he needed to stay relevant.

I thought it was a relatively obvious retort given that's all these podcasters do. They say things to get clicks. That's the name of the game.

Stephen A., however, did NOT share the same sentiment on his show last night (starts at the 11-minute mark):

Joey Logano and Stephen A. Smith are both right, unfortunately

"Let me speak directly to Mr. Joey Logano, I don’t know you from a can of paint. Why can’t I just have an opinion about NASCAR? Why do I have to be doing it to stay relevant? My television show has been No. 1 in the morning for 14 straight years. I’m on television and radio and my career spans 30 years.

"Check the news. Google me. I don’t have that concern. I’ve been blessed by God enough not to have that concern ... Do I look like somebody that needs to be relevant? I am relevant."

I mean, what a response! What a battle we have brewing between Stephen A. Smith and the NASCAR world. Certainly didn't see this one coming, but I'm glad we're here.

Look, I think both guys are probably right here, which is a boring stance to take, I know. But, it's the one I'm taking.

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Joey Logano is right in saying that Stephen A. just says stuff to say it. Duh. That's been his shtick for over a decade now. Nobody flip-flops more than Stephen A. Smith. The dude has attempted to get into politics for the past 18 months, and it's been laughable.

The way he walks into a "big" NBA game like he owns the place and all eyes are on him gets me every time. He really does think the world just loves him.

And, he's also sort of right. Look at what I'm writing about today. This is the SECOND time I've written about this in the past week. The guy does get clicks. He does move the needle. Like it or not, it's true. The data says it's true. Fair is fair, and I have to listen to the data on this one.

There's a reason "First Take" is one of the very few shows at insufferable ESPN that has survived all the turnover. People watch it.

I don't, because I value my sanity, but plenty of folks do.

Now, the whole "Google me" shtick is so exhausting. That's where Stephen A. loses me. People who throw that line out there are usually pretty intolerable. There is nothing worse than a self-righteous Big J journalist. Nothing. It's pathetic, and, frankly, embarrassing.

You can give us the facts without following up with "Google me." We gotcha, Stephen A. We know. We hear you. Trust us, we always hear you.

You never shut up!

Anyway, the truth is that most of Stephen A.'s audience doesn't know Joey Logano, and most of Joey Logano's audience doesn't know Stephen A.

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Frankly, I think they should just play a game of one-on-one and hash it out on the court.

My money is on Joey!

Stephen A Smith tells politicians, media to stop giving 'lip service' on civility after WHCA Dinner shooting

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:34 -0400

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith urged everyone involved in politics and the media to stop providing mere "lip service" to civility and actually practice it.

An assailant rushed a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Saturday night during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, shooting a Secret Service officer.

"For the purposes of what transpired this weekend, I felt the need to address it because I was there. I was in the room," Smith said, "and it was a crazy, crazy experience to say the least.

"In the end, what it comes down to is this: We're living in some very, very troubling times, and this is not a time to point fingers and blame anybody."

STEPHEN A SMITH SHUTS DOWN 25TH AMENDMENT TALK, SAYS ‘THAT AIN’T GOING TO HAPPEN’

While Smith noted that one could choose to criticize the Trump administration’s rhetoric, "all of that is, to me, at this particular moment in time, irrelevant, because I'm not going to sit up there and blame them for the actions of some really sick individuals that's willing to do harm, and dare I say, attempt to kill people because they don't like the state of our politics or anything like that.

"Can it be better? You're damn right," he continued. "Does it need to get better? You're damn right. But in the same breath, you understand you're an adult. You're responsible for your own actions."

"There's a lot that we don't like that's going on in our country," Smith added. "That doesn't mean we're going out trying to kill people. OK? So, I'm not going to sit up there and use this as an opportunity to point a negative finger toward politicians or media members or anything like that.

"What I will say is this," he continued. "I'm sick and tired of us giving lip service to the narrative of dialing down the rhetoric. We need — enough of that. Stop talking about it and do it. Stop talking about it and do it. You know, let's debate policy. Let's talk about what's actually happening in our country from a policy perspective, whether we agree or disagree and why."

Smith juxtaposed that with people merely "engaging in name-calling, speaking about people in incendiary and derogatory fashion and fomenting and feeding into the hostility and the ire that some sick individuals out there want to exercise and engage in."

The sports commentator concluded that people need to appreciate that we live in the United States of America, where people have the sacred freedom to "course-correct," to change their government by legitimate means if they are frustrated with how it enacts its duties.

RO KHANNA SAYS DHS MUST BE FUNDED AFTER PRESSED ON WHCD SHOOTING FALLOUT

The shooting suspect, Cole Allen, was apprehended and has been charged with multiple felonies. The gunfire led to President Donald Trump and Cabinet officials at the dinner being evacuated and the event being rescheduled.

Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to 91�� Digital that, after Allen’s arrest, he said he intended to target Trump administration officials and had prepared a manifesto detailing his intent, while also sharing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media.

The incident was the latest of similar attacks on Trump and his allies and has renewed the ongoing conversation about rhetoric and political violence.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Smith also said Trump, speaking shortly after the assassination attempt, had a point when he argued there was a legitimate need for a White House ballroom as a secured event venue for such events.

"If it's the White House Correspondents' Dinner, why the hell is it not at the White House?" Smith asked.

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91��' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Kevin Harvick shoves Stephen A. Smith in a locker for saying NASCAR drivers aren’t athletes

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:22:13 -0400

Stephen A. Smith dropped an all-time uninformed take recently when he said that golfers and NASCAR drivers didn't count as athletes.

It's insane on both counts, but especially when it comes to NASCAR drivers or racing drivers in general, and NASCAR great Kevin Harvick has a prime example of why.

On the last episode of SPEED on Fox, hosted by Harvick and the voice of IndyCar, Will Buxton,

"Here's the deal with Stephen A. Smith: this guy has no clue about racing," Harvick said. "And I don't mind people criticizing our sport or our drivers or our people, but if you don't know anything about racing, just keep your opinion to yourself because you shouldn't even have an opinion if you don't know anything about a sport."

NASCAR DRIVER WHO WAS LEFT BLOODIED FROM HORRIFYING DAYTONA CRASH HAS HARSH WORDS FOR STEPHEN A. SMITH

Now, I think those comments Stephen A. made it pretty damn clear that he has no idea what he's talking about, but Harvick told a story that shows just how off the mark he was.

He said that he was starting to get serious about his fitness and asked the people at Polar, a company that makes fitness trackers and smartwatches, to hook him up with a watch to wear while in the car.

"I did the first event, and I think I burned 3,200 calories," he said. "It's a 500-mile race, so you're in the car for a long time, hot day, (we) didn't have a lot of cautions that day.

"They called me the next week, and they said, 'Hey, we're going to send you another watch, there's something wrong with that watch. We think we got a bad reading, so you're just a race driver, there's no way you're expending that much energy.'

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At the next race, Harvick burned 2,400 calories thanks to a few more cautions.

"So the guy from Polar calls me, and he says, 'Hey, you know, the first one is correct, the second one confirmed everything that we had going on,'" Harvick recalled. "'The only thing that we see with that much of a calorie burn or constant heart rate are marathon runners,' and he was totally caught off guard."

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It just goes to show how misinformed some people are about racing.

Which is fine, but maybe keep your comments about it to yourself.

Stephen A. Smith calls out heated political rhetoric after WHCD security scare

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:02:24 -0400

Stephen A. Smith expected a routine night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The black tie event was anything but, as it turned into a moment of real fear.

The ESPN host was inside the Washington Hilton on Saturday night when gunfire outside the event triggered panic throughout the room.

Ben Stiller's three-word post about the Knicks sparked a firestorm after White House security scare

The deranged anti-Trump and anti-Christian gunman never made it into the ballroom and was stopped by security, but for several tense seconds, no one inside knew that.

On his YouTube show Monday, Smith described the chaos as guests scrambled to react without clear information.

"What scared the living hell out of everybody was that you thought at least for a few seconds that the room had been penetrated," Smith said. "So all of us had to get down. We ducked under tables, ducked under chairs and all of that other stuff."

What should have been a unifying moment against political violence once again turned into political chicanery from the Left.

Smith also pushed back on conspiracy theories that quickly surfaced online in the aftermath.

"You’ve got a lot of conspiracy theorists out there claiming that this was all rigged," he said. "Me personally, people can have their opinions, their conjecture or whatever, but it would be irresponsible for me or any journalist to jump to that conclusion. We’re not gonna do that."

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At the same time, he pointed to a broader issue, the increasingly heated political climate surrounding moments like this.

"I’m sick and tired of us giving lip service to the narrative of dialing down the rhetoric. Enough of that. Stop talking about it and do it," Smith said. "Let’s debate policy as opposed to engaging in name-calling and speaking about people in incendiary and derogatory fashion."

The incident also raised a practical concern about the event itself ...

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is held at a hotel, not on White House grounds.

Smith did not dismiss that criticism.

"A dead clock is right twice a day. The president has a point," he said. "Stuff like this should be on the grounds of the White House. It shouldn’t be at some damn hotel in D.C. that just anybody could get into. It just shouldn’t."

OutKick founder Clay Travis, who also attended the event, sounded the alarm about what he sees as ongoing security concerns.

On X, Travis wrote, "Assassination attempts four and five are coming. The Secret Service is not good enough at their jobs. We need better."

Ultimately, the threat never reached the ballroom. But for a few moments, uncertainty took over, and that was enough. Because in a room filled with some of the most prominent figures in media and politics, no one knew if they were safe.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

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