Should ESPN move on from Stephen A. Smith?

[reserved_one]

I will never question SAS work ethic, drive and passion for what he does but I can’t watch/listen to First Take anymore. Those type of shows for me has gotten corny and obnoxious to the point that it’s become tiresome mostly because of SAS and Skip. Listening to Molly is nails on a chalk board.

I’ll listen to Nightcap early in the morning. It is What it is in the afternoon and Gil’s Arena in the evening. I’ll occasionally watch Pat Mac here and there but First Take for me is expendable and ESPN is trash these days.

 

[get these nets]

Numbers say the opposite. First Take's ratings have been increasing every year.

I get it, we all have issues with SAS but he's a cash cow. He's not going anywhere unless someone takes his spot.

We'll see. My personal take is that in the current era, crowded with others who do what he does, that he is, or will become expendable sooner or later.
Sports related shows and hosts are interchangeable.

Will be happy when he goes away for good.

 

[Sonic Boom of the South]

Move on from a nikka that will work 24/7 and gladly stay underpaid...............

 

[jmegamar]

You sure about that? His schtick just doesn’t work outside of the sports world compared to someone like McAfee.

It’s a reason why he jumps from wave to wave trying to gain traction.

I would disagree because you look at most live shows on tv they are basically just people yelling at each other. Now I also think that’s on a larger scale to do with Americans being in a clan vs clan type mentality. I say he’s mainstream due to the fact that he’s the face of a network, has been seen hanging out with multiple much more famous celebs, and even has a recurring role on a soap opera . I would say that’s fairly mainstream. His shtick is shyt talking and being loud which is in high abundance across the board. Mcafee works imo because of bro culture/mentality.

 

[Unbothered]

They'll resign him but his shtick is getting old.

Even tho they added Shannon and the ratings supposedly went up, First Take is still not as good as it once was during the Cari Champion, Skip, and even throughout the Max Kellerman days.

Shannon being added hasn't done much for me largely in part of him only appearing two times a week. If Shannon was on Monday through Friday as he was on FS1 then it'd probably be better, and Doggy on Wednesdays is meh yet refreshing because he adds a change of pace.

Molly is ok but she interrupts and talks over them way too much.

Stephen A has gotten kinda boring and in some ways pretentiously arrogant on certain topics. I know it's a debate show but I think he believes only his opinion and perspective is what matters and catches an attitude anytime someone disagrees or points out his wrong/suspect info.

It's like most guests are afraid to challenge his opinion, info, or perspective on sports. That's why when Monica did what she did for a few weeks it was like a breath of fresh air cause SAS likes to hear himself talk.

 

[2legit]

I'm starting to see chinks in the armor. I noticed that people have been bashing SAS more this year. First it was Isiah Thomas checking him on Jaylen Brown. Then it was Monica McNutt owning him on his platform. Then it was twitter destroying him for his terrible Will Smith take. He is going to need to rebrand himself soon because audiences are fickle and they can drop in an instant. Social media is too crowded these days to coast on past legacy (see: Skip Bayless).

 

[mson]

No company is gonna let a dude that will brag about taking a pay cut go anywhere . Homey locked in as long as he is getting those ratings.

But he's expecting a big contract this time around. He talks about it all the incessantly.

 

[Braman]

Skip Bayless is the worst.

Nah bruh. Skip Bayless is a known agitator. No one really takes/took him seriously, especially after Shannon left him. Also w/ Skip you knew he was trolling. It made it entertaining and funny

On the flip, SAS takes himself so gotdamn serious it’s agitating. Ans he Is THE face of nba and nfl coverage, so he dictates the very way sports are covered across the board. That same seriousness for no reason. Plus just to pay his salary espn let go of countless actual sports experts and instead hired personalities and gossip mongers.

And perhaps worst of all he brings in the passive aggressive personal attacks. It’s disgusting what he’s single handedly done. Skip def opened the door to this style but SAS took that small fire and poured gas all over it

 

[FTBS]

But he's expecting a big contract this time around. He talks about it all the incessantly.

He on big contract number 3. He been about getting paid. But he also knows where his bread is buttered. If they sign that big deal and then come to him crying broke in a couple years his ass will gladly take a pay cut and go on whatever the hot pod is and tell everyone about it...with pride

 

[KillerB88]

Black people hate seeing other Black folks win. I hope he sticks around and gets a significant pay bump. If I were in the league, he would have been one of the few guys I would give interviews to. Wilbon, SAS, Jalen, and Michael Smith (No Jemele)

 

[FTBS]

I'm starting to see chinks in the armor. I noticed that people have been bashing SAS more this year. First it was Isiah Thomas checking him on Jaylen Brown. Then it was Monica McNutt owning him on his platform. Then it was twitter destroying him for his terrible Will Smith take. He is going to need to rebrand himself soon because audiences are fickle and they can drop in an instant. Social media is too crowded these days to coast on past legacy (see: Skip Bayless).

SAS is like bed bugs and Herpes...he aint goin nowhere

He will do and say anything for ratings and clicks and he will do and say whatever the bosses tell him. You cant get rid of a guy like that.

 

[lib123]

Max Kellerman is absolutely terrible outside of Boxing commentary

Lol I think he was entertaining.

 

[Supa]

We'll see. My personal take is that in the current era, crowded with others who do what he does, that he is, or will become expendable sooner or later.
Sports related shows and hosts are interchangeable.

Will be happy when he goes away for good.

Ask Skip Bayless how his show is doing without Shannon.

SAS is on the very short list of 3-5 people who move the needle as the face of a show. He's not getting replaced by just anyone.

 

[RammerJammer]

No but they fukked up giving McAfee all the money, more people watch his show on YouTube than ESPN

 

[yseJ]

Nah bruh. Skip Bayless is a known agitator. No one really takes/took him seriously, especially after Shannon left him. Also w/ Skip you knew he was trolling. It made it entertaining and funny

On the flip, SAS takes himself so gotdamn serious it’s agitating. Ans he Is THE face of nba and nfl coverage, so he dictates the very way sports are covered across the board. That same seriousness for no reason. Plus just to pay his salary espn let go of countless actual sports experts and instead hired personalities and gossip mongers.

And perhaps worst of all he brings in the passive aggressive personal attacks. It’s disgusting what he’s single handedly done. Skip def opened the door to this style but SAS took that small fire and poured gas all over it

SAS and Skip are the same thing. They've typecasted their roles and the side effect is no one takes them seriously out of character.


It was actually refreshing to see SAS out of character on pods, but clearly most don't care about him out of character. His ratings on shows and pods he's not being his screaming himself are low as shyt.

Skip troll ass basically lives in character.

And "straight man" guys like Shannon and Max don't have that stigma. Neither does McAfee on his pod. This is the cost of playing the instigator/troll guy on first take type of shows.