Watch the emotional video below of Skip address walking away from ESPN’s First Take.
ESPN’s First Take Host Skip Bayless Leaving
On Wednesday ESPN announced that Skip Bayless would be parting ways with the network after 12 years.
Skip Bayless has decided to leave ESPN when his contract expires at the end of August.
His final appearance on First Take will be the day after the NBA Finals conclude.
We want to thank Skip for his many contributions to ESPN. His hard work and talent have benefited ESPN for 12 years.
His contract is up in August. For months, Bayless and his reps have been talking with Fox Sports executives about the 64-year-old joining that network and having an afternoon debate show on FS1 built around him. Fox Sports Networks president Jamie Horowitz, a former ESPN executive, has long been a fan of Bayless and was the lead executive on First Take through many of its most controversial days.
Expect FS1 to announce in the not-too-distant future that Bayless has signed with them—and likely for about $5-6 million per year, according to multiple sources.
In an interview with SI.com on Tuesday, ESPN vice president of production Norby Williamson said Bayless made the decision to leave. ESPN executives praised Bayless on his way out and said he would work on First Take through the end of the NBA season.
“We wanted Skip to stay and we had discussions with him, but he ended making the decision,” Williamson said. “I respect his decision. His contract was coming up, and he decided to go in another direction.”
Asked what that other direction is, Williamson said, “I’m not here to comment on that other direction.”
Williamson declined comment on ESPN’s financial offer to Bayless, which was believed to be $4 million per year.
Stephen A. Smith Swears ROMO JERSEY After Losing Cowboys BET! [Video]
Stephen A. Smith kept to his word after losing a bet he placed against the Cowboys. Stephen A. swore a Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys jersey on his birthday today. He guaranteed the Cowboys would lose against the Seahawks this past Sunday in Seattle.
Dallas won.
And now here’s Stephen A… lol.
Skip and Stephen A. Smith Discuss LeBron’s Return to Cleveland
First Take’s Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless give their take on LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending four years with the Miami Heat.
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Skip and Stephen A. Smith on Mayweather Signing w/ Showtime! [Video]
Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith talk about Floyd Mayweather’s new deal with Showtime!
Stephen A. Smith on Having Absence Of Compassion! [Video]
Stephen A. Smith explains, “We have to be careful of having absence of compassion!” Have we classified too many things as racially insensitive? If someone apologizes genuinely — should we be more forgiving?
Stephen opens up his 2nd hour with Linsanity. Jeremy Lin is a great story for sports, but the general public needs to learn about racial sensitivity and when certain things are apropriate and when they aren’t.