Cris Carter did not hold back during the latest episode of his Fully Loaded podcast this week. Carter, a Hall of Fame wide receiver during his years in the NFL, joined Fox Sports in 2016 as a football analyst. That move came shortly after Skip Bayless moved to the network and started co-hosting Undisputed with Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe became one of the most successful athletes-turned-media personalities in recent memory. In 2023, he left FS1 to join ESPN, taking Undisputed‘s ratings with him. Carter did not follow in Sharpe’s footsteps, departing FS1 in 2019. However, he knows both well, having worked with them for a few years and also being a frequent contributor to Bayless’ previous show, First Take. On the latest podcast episode, he ripped Bayless.
Cris Carter criticized Skip Bayless for what he believes was exploitation of Black culture. He points to how Bayless moved to Fox Sports and started wearing Jordan brand sneakers. He talks about Bayless wearing gold chains, which was not something he did often during his time with ESPN. Carter even remarked about the relationship Bayless has with Lil Wayne, stating that he does not believe there was no way the two of them could be close. Wayne did both theme songs for Undisputed while Bayless was with FS1.
Cris Carter also talked about how fans perceived Skip Bayless, and that what Bayless did was take advantage of Black support for his co-hosts. “People show up to support Shannon, people show up to support Stephen A., and then they had to tolerate him. And he knew that,” said Carter. He also talked about the staged nature of sports debate shows, likening Bayless to a heel (a bad guy) in professional wrestling, one who does not really believe what he’s saying.
Carter’s comments are unsurprising. Many athletes dislike Skip Bayless for how he talks about them on television, as Bayless often gets personal for no reason but to draw engagement. Part of the reason Shannon Sharpe left FS1 was because Bayless repeatedly downplayed his Hall of Fame athletic career in disrespectful ways. When Sharpe finished up with Undisputed, FS1 attempted to relaunch the show centered around Bayless, but it was unsuccessful. The lack of success and inability for the show’s ratings to rebound following Sharpe’s departure almost certainly contributed to his own departure from the network on August 2. What Bayless does next remains to be seen, but his next venture will definitely not involve Cris Carter.
Skip Bayless is easily one of the biggest names in the entire sports broadcasting world. However, the last year or so has not been fruitful. Overall, he lost Shannon Sharpe and his Undisputed ratings began to tank. Recently, it was reported that he would be leaving FS1 as it just wasn’t working out. Bayless had largely remained silent on all of this. He wasn’t providing fans with any updates, and no one knew when his last day at the network would be.
Well, today, Skip Bayless officially clocked in for his last day at Undisputed. It was revealed this morning that this would be his last episode. He had Lil Wayne on to celebrate, and it was all very low-key. Following the episode, Skip took to Twitter to offer up his final goodbye. Furthermore, he teased his supporters by noting that this is not the end of his career. In fact, there is more on the horizon for him right now.
Today was my last show on Undisputed. I’m leaving FS1. I’ve been planning to pursue other opportunities for several months. I had a great 8-year run with a lot of great people at FOX, but now I’m excited for what’s coming up. Stay tuned.
“Today was my last show on Undisputed,” Bayless began. “I’m leaving FS1. I’ve been planning to pursue other opportunities for several months. I had a great 8-year run with a lot of great people at FOX, but now I’m excited for what’s coming up. Stay tuned.” Bayless will surely be announcing a new venture soon enough. Whether or not people are going to want to tune in, is a different story entirely. Bayless has always done well with a co-host, but by himself, he is much less appealing.
Let us know what you think of Skip Bayless leaving Undisputed, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that he is going to land on his feet, or his career over at this point? Will you be following Skip to his next venture? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless had a pretty horrendous falling out a few months ago. Overall, this was all because of Skip’s continued disrespect on Undisputed. Fans were getting sick and tired of it, and so was Shannon. Subsequently, Sharpe decided it was time for him to leave. Once he did so, he went over to ESPN and First Take where he is now good friends with Stephen A Smith. Meanwhile, Bayless is set to fade into obscurity sooner rather than later.
It was recently announced that Skip would no longer be on FS1 come next year. His contract is running out and he will not be renewing. There is a ton of speculation as to what he will do next although many believe he should retire. As for Shannon Sharpe, well, he gave his thoughts on all of this on “Nightcap,” his show with Chad Ochocinco. Below, you can see that Sharpe took a diplomatic approach while speaking on all of this.
Sharpe noted that he is grateful for the opportunity Bayless gave him. Furthermore, he was adamant that he wanted Skip to succeed. However, he knew that they could no longer succeed on the same show together. It was a mature approach and one that Bayless probably wouldn’t have taken himself. Either way, it is going to be interesting to see how Skip moves forward with this new chapter of his career. If one thing is for sure, he has been surpassed by Sharpe in every possible metric.
Let us know how you feel about Shannon Sharpe’s comments, down below. Do you believe that he is being too kind to Skip here? How did you feel about the end of Undisputed? Did Skip do Shannon dirty in the end? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the entertainment world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite personalities and their upcoming or ongoing projects.
Stephen A. Smith spoke about Skip Bayless’s FS1 departure on the latest episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show. He addressed a few things, including the current state of their relationship and the impact that Bayless had on Smith’s own career.
Stephen A. and Skip have not spoken in “a while,” per Smith’s podcast comments. “He’s on that side, and I’m on this side,” he said. However, he does not believe that Bayless will retire, nor does he believe that Undisputed was unsuccessful for Bayless because of how it ended. “He ain’t some 30-year-old that flopped after one year. He’s been doing it for over 40. And he’s transitioned and transcended throughout the years.” Smith was also grateful to Bayless for helping push his media career into what it’s become.
Stephen A. Smith Reacts To Skip Bayless Leaving FS1
Of course, fans fondly remember the Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless era of First Take, which started in 2012 amidst sagging ratings for the program. Smith replaced Jay Crawford, who transitioned to host SportsCenter. The program solidified the television career of Stephen A. Smith, who did not have a consistent role with ESPN until Bayless asked Smith to sign on. Their debates became famous among sports fans, as Bayless finally found a dance partner who could match his energy. When Bayless left ESPN in 2016, Smith developed into the face of First Take, and by proxy, ESPN.
Stephen A. and former Skip Bayless co-host Shannon Sharpe work together on First Take now. Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday afternoon that ESPN had no interest in bringing Bayless back to the network. Sharpe and Bayless’s relationship ended acrimoniously, after a series of increasingly disrespectful comments that culminated with Bayless downplaying Sharpe’s own Hall of Fame football career to prop up Tom Brady’s. Smith said he did not want to speak for Sharpe, but added that Sharpe told him that he “refused to let six years be ruined by six months.” Smith and Sharpe do not appear to have any ill will towards Bayless. Bayless’s FS1 exit will be an interesting one, as he is 73 years old and not the personality he once was. Stephen A. Smith wishes him well.
Skip Bayless was one of the biggest draws in sports media just a few years ago. Overall, he was a huge reason for First Take’s early success. As the inventor of the show, Bayless is largely the catalyst for the media landscape we have today, for better or for worse (largely for worse). Skip knew that people love conflict. It’s why news ratings are always higher during times of war, crisis, or natural disaster. Although sports are a whole different beast, conflict is the centerpiece of any athletic competition. Two teams or a group of individuals are fighting for the one thing that the other can’t have. In a stroke of genius, Bayless was able to bring that conflict to sports talk television.
When Skip Bayless brought Stephen A. Smith to First Take, the show was in dire straits. While Bayless was captivating enough with his outlandish hot takes, he couldn’t find a co-host as brazen as himself. That’s where Stephen A. comes in. At the time, Smith had been ousted from ESPN due to what he describes as creative differences and perhaps even some interpersonal ones. There were network people who didn’t take kindly to Smith. However, Bayless couldn’t have cared less. He knew he got along with Stephen A. and had a hunch that bringing him in would boost ratings. In the end, Smith’s arrival did more than just boost ratings.
The show got a whole lot of flack from athletes, coaches, and general managers alike, yet the program was a ratings masterclass for ESPN. It immediately became the biggest show on the network and while ESPN didn’t love this, they couldn’t say no to a cash cow, especially with streaming on the horizon. Bayless and Smith were a match made in heaven. Bayless was always trying to goad a reaction out of Stephen A. and Smith would always give him what he wanted. This subsequently led to numerous iconic moments that have fans feeling nostalgic for the LeBron Miami Heat era of sports discourse.
By the time Skip left ESPN for a larger salary at FS1, Smith was arguably a much bigger star than he was. However, his hatred for LeBron and his hilariously misinformed takes were still enough to garner viewers. Not to mention, Bayless has a great ability to spot talent, and recruiting Shannon Sharpe was the best thing he could have done. They had immediate chemistry, and somehow, they were able to keep up with First Take, despite the latter being significantly more established.
It was a slow build for sure, but by 2019, it felt like Undisputed was a better product. Shannon and Skip were going viral every day and their chemistry was off the charts. “Drip Bayless” had become a household nickname and they were doing everything right. However, once the pandemic hit, it’s like Skip hit the curmudgeon button and never stopped pressing down on it. His disrespect towards Sharpe became apparent. Every month, Skip and Shannon were becoming more like an old married couple than an actual partnership.
Subsequently, everything went to hell when Skip told Sharpe he was jealous of Tom Brady. It led to a loud exchange that many felt had Sharpe appearing weak. Then the Damar Hamlin incident happened and the writing was on the wall. Sharpe left for First Take and Skip was left to pick up the pieces he created.
As we pointed out in our previous piece on Skip Bayless, Undisputed became a dumpster fire following Sharpe’s departure. Keyshawn Johnson, Richard Sherman, and Michael Irvin came in to be Skip’s rotating co-hosts. However, whenever they started debating, Bayless could not get a word in edge-wise. The show was more frustrating than entertaining. Not to mention, Bayless’ schtick was no longer funny after he bullied Sharpe off the show. What once was a humorous character and villain within the sports world had become a crotchety, bitter, and downright nasty old man. Pair that with the bleach and ammonia chemistry of Johnson and Sherman, you were left with a horrific show.
Months ago, Paul Pierce was brought in as a means to save Skip Bayless from himself. After all, this should have been perfect since they both have a strong disdain for LeBron James. However, Pierce has not been great for the show. The ratings have remained in a steep decline and Pierce has proven to be less than prepared to speak about today’s NBA. If we wanted to relive the glory days of the 2008 Boston Celtics, we could just look up highlights on YouTube in our own time.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 12: ESPN journalist Skip Bayless attends IAVA 7th Annual Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 12, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for IAVA)
After breaking all of this down, it has become crystal clear that Skip Bayless needs to retire when his contract expires. Don’t be a hero, and certainly don’t be an egomaniac either. It’s over. It was a fun ride, but it’s over. 10 years ago, hell, even five years ago, there was a real appetite for LeBron revisionism and LeBron contrarianism. However, James is a few years from retirement, and how fitting would that be for his biggest hater to ride off into the sunset before the farewell tour?
Beyond that, Skip has simply worn out his welcome in the industry. While Stephen A. has burned bridges, he has burned them with people who realistically wouldn’t have been stars without him. If Max Kellerman was a real superstar, he wouldn’t have needed First Take. It turns out he did. Sharpe, on the other hand, immediately left Skip and started exploding with Club Shay Shay. Shannon is a pop culture staple right now and that probably wouldn’t be the case if he was still at FS1.
Cold Pizza host Skip Bayless on the ESPN set in Miami, Florida on February 1, 2007. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Sure, Skip’s eye for talent is immense. But will the next big talent even want to work with him after how he treated Shannon? Without ESPN or FS1, where would Skip even go? Who would want to follow him there? The media landscape is so disjointed and barren that the only real avenue for Skip would be his own podcast. But why bother? It would just be him reliving stories from the glory days. No athlete wants to chop it up with Skip. And if they do, it will immediately be confrontational, which is something Bayless has proven to be firmly against.
At the age of 72, Bayless could just retire, call it a career, and leave it all behind. At this point, it’s probably what he should do. In fact, it is what he should do. Sure, a couple of LeBron and Bronny tweets here and there might make us chuckle or get nostalgic for those classic rants. But other than that, Skip isn’t contributing anything new to sports talk television. If anything, he’s holding back a younger generation from revolutionizing the groundwork he laid all those years ago in Bristol, Connecticut.
Skip Bayless is no longer part of FS1. The co-host of the Undisputed has severed ties with the network after eight years. According to the New York Post, Bayless’ final episode will air sometime during the fall. His departure marks the end of an era, but it is not an altogether surprising announcement. Skip Bayless has made his discontent with FS1 clear over the years. To such an extent, in fact, that he complained about his co-hosts on the air.
During a 2023 episode of The Undisputed, Bayless grew frustrated by the chatter of his three co-hosts, Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin. The veteran sports analyst took a backseat for most of the conversation. That being said, he made his frustrations clear toward the end of the segment. “I don’t know how closely you watched their games, but I can,” he told his peers. “We don’t have time because you guys talk too much.” He then told Johnson, point blank, that he talked “too much.”
The writing was on the wall for Bayless when his original co-host left the show in 2023. Shannon Sharpe walked away from The Undisputed and FS1 due to tension with Bayless. Tellingly, part of the draw of the show was seeing Bayless and Sharpe clash with one another. The absence of the latter was a blow that the show’s never fully recovered from. Ratings declined, and Skip Bayless struggled to find a groove in the revolving roster of guest hosts.
Of course, the alternative was worse. Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe were frequently at each other’s throats during the show’s peak. The latter admitted on The Stephen A. Smith Show that he got so mad during one segment that he considered attacking Bayless. “I remember going home, calling my sister,” Sharpe stated. “I called my brother… It took a lot. It took a lot for me not to put my hands on [Bayless]. It actually did.” Skip Bayless has not yet commented on his exit from FS1. New York Post claimed that the analyst referred them to FOX Sports, who declined to make a statement.
Skip Bayless is easily one of the biggest names in the sports analyst world. Although he may not be respected by everyone, there is no doubt that he has made a large impact in his career. He has thoroughly pissed a lot of people off, however, that has never stopped him from doing his job. Overall, Bayless is best known for his time on First Take and Undisputed. It was on these shows that he showcased his anti-LeBron James agenda. The latter is set to return on August 28th after a brief hiatus caused by the departure of Shannon Sharpe.
Skip Bayless is now going to be working alongside Richard Sherman, which will make for fascinating television. Moreover, every single Friday, he will be sitting alongside Lil Wayne. The return of this show is bringing forth lots of anticipation, and there is no doubt that sparks are going to fly. However, a new report is showcasing just how much control Bayless wields over at FS1. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, there is at least one personality he had no interest in working with.
Skip Bayless reportedly refuses to work with Nick Wright, per @MMcCarthyREV
“‘Skip doesn’t want to work with Nick Wright,’ answered the source. ‘Skip doesn’t want to work with anybody who will make him look bad. And Nick would disembowel him on the air.’” pic.twitter.com/vMY8reSxXF
That person is none other than Nick Wright of FS1’s First Thing’s First. While Wright has his haters, he is a pretty persuasive orator. In the report, it was revealed that Bayless feels threatened by Nick Wright and thinks the guy would wash him in a debate. “Skip doesn’t want to work with Nick Wright,” the source claims. “Skip doesn’t want to work with anybody who will make him look bad. And Nick would disembowel him on the air.”
This is a very interesting report and it speaks to the dynamics of FS1. However, Nick Wright and Chris Broussard are perfect right where they are, and there is no reason to mess with that winning formula. As for Undisputed, it should be interesting to see how the show progresses from here on out. Let us know what you think of this latest report, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.
: Fully Loaded/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/Agk7HA1yaT
