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.
Paul Pierce is a former NBA star who has had some very interesting hot takes over the years. Overall, he is consistently giving some opinions that make NBA fans do a double-take. This is especially true as it pertains to none other than LeBron James. LeBron and Pierce were rivals in the NBA, although more often than not, James came away on top. However, Pierce consistently denigrates LeBron’s career and will make it seem like four titles aren’t that impressive.
Today, Paul Pierce gave perhaps one of his wildest LeBron hot takes yet. During his recent appearance on Undisputed, Pierce made the case that he is the reason why LeBron James was able to enjoy so much success in the league. By his rationale, Pierce and the Celtics made LeBron want to elevate to another level. “I truly feel responsible for taking LeBron to that next level,” Pierce argued. As you can imagine, this has caused a bit of a stir on social media.
Pierce has been known to go viral in the past. Of course, he was infamously fired by ESPN after a video of himself partying with strippers was livestreamed on Instagram. Since that time, Pierce has gotten his own show with Kevin Garnett on Showtime. Furthermore, he is now a recurring co-host on Undisputed during the NBA season. As for LeBron, he is about to enter his 22nd season in the NBA, and fans are excited to see what he does at the age of 40.
Let us know what you think of these comments from Paul Pierce, in the comments section down below. Do you agree that he pushed LeBron James to the next level? Or do you believe that he is simply out of his mind with this one? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite athletes and their exploits.
The ongoing verbal clash between NBA player, analyst, and podcaster Draymond Green and FOX Sports’ Skip Bayless has taken a new turn. Draymond, in a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, labeled Skip as a “hater,” to which Skip responded by calling Draymond “the dirtiest player in NBA history.” Green, not one to back down, further criticized Bayless, stating, “Everybody’s skipping past Skip Bayless since Shannon left him, and he comes out and says he’ll have me eating out of the palm of his hands.”
Draymond continued, “I am not coming on your show, Skip. I’m gonna keep skipping past you just like everyone else skipped on you, because that show is dead, nobody wants to hear you talk anymore. In the words of Richard Sherman, ‘I am better than you. I am better than you at life, I am just better at you.’” Green continues, displaying the rings and honors that envelop him, before concluding, “Yeah Skip, we don’t respect you, you need more people,” Echoing Jay-Z’s “Takeover.”
“I am not coming on your show Skip. I’m gonna keep skipping past you just like everyone else skipped on you. Because that show is dead. No one wants to hear you talk anymore. In the words of Richard Sherman, I am better than you. I’m… pic.twitter.com/2aaZF0C1O8
In reaction to something Draymond Green had said about LeBron James, Bayless had stated he wanted Green to appear on his show and discuss why he branded him a hater. Skip said, “Draymond can come right here on this show…he can have as much time as he wants to make all of his cases against me, but I will respond. Thats why Draymond will never join me on this show, he knows what would happen to him. I know too much and I’m not afraid to say it. He knows I would chew him up and spit him right out for all to see.”
Bayless also said, “In my career, I have never seen anything like this phenomenon. Draymond Green is, no exaggeration, the dirtiest player in NBA history by far.” He continued, “I dare you to go on YouTube, call up and watch those low-light tapes of the cavalcade of Draymond Green’s dirtiest plays over the years … the cheap shots, the low blows, the dangerous plays. Draymond is the all-time cheap-shot artist.” Overall, it is safe to say that the beef between Draymond Green and Skip Bayless will keep going well into the next NBA season.
Draymond Green fired some shots at Skip Bayless last week, calling the FS1 personality the “biggest hater” outside the NBA. “Dude just sits up there and spews hate,” Green said. “I hope I give him a soundbite for his show because it’s dying.” Green’s dream came true on Thursday when the host of The Skip Bayless Show disparaged him on his podcast, branding him “the dirtiest player in NBA history by far.” Skip said of Dray, “Here’s the astonishing truth about Draymond Green. Draymond Green is, no exaggeration, the dirtiest player in NBA history by far. The dirtiest player in NBA history by far is Draymond Green.”
Bayless told his viewers to look up Draymond’s various “lowlight tapes, of the cavalcade of Draymond Green’s dirtiest plays over the years … the cheap shots, the low blows, the dangerous plays. Draymond is the all-time cheap-shot artist.” Nevertheless, a lot of admirers adore Green, according to Bayless. He said, “Everybody loves Draymond,” Bayless said. “Somehow his perception is his reality … the perception of Draymond is, ‘He’s such a nice guy, he’s so fun, he’s funny, he’s glib, he’s witty … he’s just so entertaining, that’s Draymond.”
“The truth is, Draymond Green is just a great actor. At his core, deepest down, he’s always been a dirty basketball player with one or two screws loose,” Skip Bayless asserted about Green. Bayless continued by highlighting a few particular instances involving Green, such as the well-known physical altercation with Jordan Poole, Green’s teammate with the Golden State Warriors at the time, in 2022.
Naturally, Green would be ranked highly, if not #1, on any credible list of the “Dirtiest Players in NBA History,” but it might not be a good look for Bayless to make that claim at this time, only a few days after Green called him one of the worst haters in the NBA and dared him to answer. Draymond has buried the hatchet with Stephen A. Smith this week. All in all, Skip and Draymond may need to settle things once and for all.
Shannon Sharpe is speaking out about his dismissal from his last TV gig. News leaked during the NBA playoffs last year that Shannon Sharpe will be leaving the popular FS1 program Undisputed. The program premiered in September 2016, but by the summer of 2023, there was irreversible hostility between Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless. The sports personalities heated exchange with Skip Bayless went viral. Sharpe disclosed that he found it difficult to maintain composure when Bayless made disparaging remarks about him. Now, Sharpe has opened up about that pivotal moment in his media career.
Following a buyout deal, the two parties’ collaboration came to an end. Stephen A. Smith, former co-host of Skip Bayless, claimed that Shannon had been “pushed out” of FS1. The debate show was partially pioneered by Bayless and Smith. Their contentious relationship has become a staple dynamic for sports TV. sometimes tempers flared too much, and Shannon Sharpe experienced that first hand. Overall, Sharpe reveals that he is very humble to have an even bigger platform now than he did when he was let go.
Shannon Sharpe recently appeared as a guest on Jerome D’s podcast, “The Black Money Tree”, where he discussed his life after Undisputed. He said, “I’d be lying if I told you I thought I would be where I am right now at this point in time,” Sharpe admitted. “Did I think it was possible? Yes. But I thought it was going to take me a lot longer than what it actually took me.” He reflected on the reaction he received for his outburst, saying, “It’s tough. People are like, ‘Well, Shannon, why did you get so emotional?’ Because if you knew what I put into that job, you would understand. The greater the expectation, the greater the hurt when it doesn’t work out.”
Sharpe also commented on his status in media now, saying, “I believed I could be where I am today, but I just thought it was going to take me a couple years,” he added. “But to say that it didn’t hurt to leave – because it did. Because of what I put into that…it hurt me to lose because I put so much into that job. Now, I look at it and say, ‘I’m no longer talent.’ You can’t fire me from Shay Shay Media, because I own it. You can’t fire me from Nightcap, you can’t fire me from Club Shay Shay, I own it.” Overall, Shannon Sharpe rebounded well and has come out even better after getting let go.
Draymond Green has a lot of critics. Whether it’s his brash attitude or on-court behavior in which he seems to get in fights every other game, Green gets a lot of flack. On the most recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” the vocal veteran forward for the Warriors chatted with Shaquille O’Neal and was challenged to identify the “biggest hater” in the NBA. Green continued by naming both an NBA player and an outsider. His answers are not very groundbreaking and should be pretty expected if you know anything about Green’s beef in the past.
“The biggest hater outside the NBA is Skip Bayless for sure,” Green told Shaq. “Dude just sits up there and spews hate. I hope I give him a soundbite for his show because it’s dying. Like when you’re hating on LeBron James every single day, for instance, it’s like there’s nothing this man has done to give you something to hate on, like you’re a hater.” Harsh words for the Fox Sports personality. He then turned his attention to his NBA rival, Jusuf Nurkić, naming him the biggest hater in the NBA.
Draymond once again brought up the guy he keeps going back and forth with, Jusuf Nurkić. He said of the Suns Center whom he assaulted last year, “Inside the NBA I’m going to have to go … man that’s a tough one, because guys be trying to hide their hate … biggest hater inside the NBA is [Jusuf] Nurkić. Hater. ‘Oh he need help,’ ‘That brother still need help.’ Like no, you need help. Big softie.” The feud between Green and Nurkić started after Green hit Nurkić in the face during a game on December 12; this led to an extended suspension for Green, and after the game, Nurkić hilariously told reporters that Green “needs help.”
The two then got into an altercation during their next court appearance on February 10. Following the Warriors’ season-ending loss to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament, Nurkić shared a GIF of the cartoon character “That’s all folks!” on social media. After seeing that, Green did the same on his podcast, saying, “That’s all folks!” in response to Nurkić and the Phoenix Suns losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Overall, the Draymond Green Jusuf Nurkić beef astonishingly is still going strong.
Skip Bayless rose through the ESPN ranks in impression fashion throughout the mid-2000s. Overall, he made his mark with the show Cold Pizza. This would act as a precursor to the morning debate show format we know today. Although Bayless was a success at ESPN, it wasn’t until he linked up with Stephen A. Smith on First Take that he became a real sensation. Both of these men became superstars at the network, with Smith being seen as the reasonable one. As for Bayless, he was known as a tried and true hater who would say anything, even if he didn’t believe it. If something fit his narrative, he would run with it. This was especially true as it pertains to LeBron James, whom he is still perversely critical of.
Eventually, Bayless left First Take in 2016 to pursue a role at FS1. The network was trying to build its sports programming, and Bayless was going to be their cash cow. He created the show Undisputed and hired Shannon Sharpe as his right-hand man. It was the perfect marriage as you could tell the two had phenomenal on-camera chemistry. With Sharpe’s hilarious personality and wealth of experience as a professional athlete, he was the perfect person to subdue Bayless’ cantankerous energy. This was the case for almost seven years, as Bayless and Sharpe combined for some truly hilarious moments. In fact, for a while, Undisputed was seen as the superior draw to First Take. Max Kellerman and Stephen A. were mediocre at best together, and the ratings reflected that. FS1 was slowly but surely creeping up on ESPN’s empire.
Skip Vs. Shannon
Things were looking good. Sharpe was a sports media darling, and Skip was cementing himself as a legend of the industry. Sure, he has never been agreeable, but that is the huge selling point with Bayless. Unfortunately, he eventually let that aforementioned cantankerous energy get in the way of a good thing. After years of being cordial with Sharpe, Skip decided to undo seven years of goodwill with one bad show. During a debate about Tom Brady no longer being a good quarterback, Skip told Shannon that he was just jealous of Tom for being a better player than him. When Sharpe raised his voice in disbelief, Skip told him to put his glasses back on which in retrospect, felt like Skip pressing the red button Drake loves to talk about so much.
Shannon Sharpe Thanks Skip Bayless On His Last Day
In the weeks and months following that broadcast, it was becoming clear that Skip and Shannon no longer liked each other. They could barely look each other in the eyes, and it the audience could tell things were getting tense. Consequently, it was absolutely no surprise when Shannon revealed that he would be leaving the show. In June of last year, Sharpe had his final broadcast with Undisputed and it was here where he delivered a lengthy monologue, thanking Bayless for giving him the opportunity. It was a classy gesture on Sharpe’s part that fans felt was unnecessary given the fact that Bayless wouldn’t have extended the same courtesy.
Once Sharpe left Undisputed, the show went on a hiatus as they looked for a new co-host. Meanwhile, Sharpe was being approached by everyone. After all, he’s an incredible talent, and media companies knew good and well that Skip had made a huge mistake. In the end, Sharpe opted to sign on with Stephen A. Smith and First Take for a two-days-per-week contract. This would allow Sharpe to stay on TV while also having the time to work on Club Shay Shay. In fact, things have worked out so well for him in this regard, that he now has one of the most viewed interviews in the history of YouTube, thanks to Katt Williams. Had it not been for Bayless’ bruised ego and misplaced pride, that may have never happened.
Shannon And Stephen A. Have Taken Skip’s Spotlight
Sharpe and Smith hit the ground running on First Take. Their chemistry was immediately apparent, although fans did note that the debates weren’t as heated as they were on Undisputed. However, the reasoning for that was quite simple. Sharpe and Smith simply have too much respect for one another to let things get out of hand. That said, they have enough chemistry to always keep things humorous, no matter what the nature of the debate is.
Eventually, Undisputed came back with Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, and Rachel Nichols. During the first show back, it was impossible for Skip to get a word in edge-wise. Sherman and Johnson dominated the conversation, while Bayless was neutralized. Fans were not amused with the panel dynamic, and things never really got any better. After that first week wore off, viewers stopped watching and moved on to First Take. If you don’t believe me, just check the numbers. According to Awful Announcing, Undisputed had an average of just under 50K viewers during the NCAA tournament. Meanwhile, in December, First Take was averaging over 600K viewers, according to the ESPN Press Room. That means First Take has been outpacing Undisputed by at least a multiple of 10.
Skip And Paul Pierce Don’t Move The Needle
In the last month or so, Undisputed has brought on Paul Pierce for the NBA Playoffs. Unfortunately, the ratings have not gotten any better with him on the show. At the end of the day, fans have already decided where their allegiances lie. Furthermore, Pierce was never a media personality that fans took a liking to. While he was on ESPN, he was frequently clowned for having bad takes. Not to mention, he didn’t have a particularly positive view of guys like LeBron, which pretty well annihilates any chance of him and Skip having real debates. If anyone was going to save Undisputed from the depths of ratings hell, it was not going to be Pierce. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could do it.
For years, Skip Bayless built up a rapport with Sharpe, only to destroy it in a few quick seconds. It was like watching the captain of the Titanic steer his ship into the iceberg even though they were already on a safe trajectory. Like watching a man punch himself in the face over and over again for no good reason. Bayless completely tanked his show, and it did not have to be this way. Had he just stayed the course, things would be fine right now. Instead, Sharpe left and proved that he was the one keeping things afloat. Meanwhile, Bayless remains a curmudgeon whose star has faded to the point of parody. He has gone from being a legendary talent evaluator and provocateur to just another guy on sports talk television. It’s been a long fall from the top, and Bayless is barely keeping his head above water. It’s unfortunate, but after his falling out with Sharpe, it was extremely predictable.
What’s Next?
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: TV sports commentators Skip Bayless (L) and Shannon Sharpe attends the 2016 IAVA Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
So now what? Well, Skip Bayless is currently 72 years old. Moreover, in 2021, he signed a four-year deal with FS1 at $8 million per year. If you do the math, that means his contract is up next year. By then, he will be approaching his mid-70s. At that point, retirement should be the number one thing on his mind. Unless there is a massive shift in the media landscape, Undisputed is not getting back to its old numbers. Not to mention, fans can kiss a Stephen A. Smith reunion goodbye now that Shannon is over at ESPN.
After such an electric career that saw numerous iconic moments, Bayless’ career is destined to go out with a whimper. It could have been avoided, but when you have an overinflated sense of self, these things are bound to happen.
Skip Bayless made a huge mistake when he decided to get disrespectful with Shannon Sharpe. Overall, Skip did not know just how good he had it with the man. They had solid chemistry and every single episode of Undisputed was entertaining. However, Bayless ruined it and Sharpe decided to go elsewhere. Now, Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith have teamed up for monster ratings on First Take. Furthermore, Shannon has been doing huge numbers on YouTube with Club Shay Shay.
As for Undisputed, the show has been doing horrific numbers since Shannon left. Skip and his no-hosts haven’t been able to find their footing, and FS1 is scrambling. In fact, according to The New York Post, the show is looking to add an NBA legend into the mix. Yes, that’s right folks, Paul Pierce is going to be on Undisputed, or at least that is what the reports say. Pierce was great on ESPN and he is someone whose hot takes get people riled up. Simply put, he has the potential to be a ratings saver.
If the reports are indeed true, then Skip Bayless and FS1 are in luck. The NBA playoffs are coming up next month, and that is a huge time to capitalize on interest around the NBA. However, there is no telling if this would even work. Fans have already seen Undisputed without Sharpe, and by and large, they don’t like it. If this strategy does not work out for them, then Undisputed might have to say goodbye. As for Bayless, who knows what this means for his career?
Let us know what you think if this potential decision from FS1, in the comments section down below. Do you think this will work, or is Undisputed destined for failure at this point? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on your favorite athletes and personalities.
Steve Stoute took shots at Skip Bayless during his recent appearance on Club Shay Shay. “I watched your ex-host, Skip – I don’t even understand why all these other Black athletes even go on the show now. I don’t even understand what they’re doing. To me, it’s so clear that he needs Black talent, athletes, rappers. He’s doing everything to prop himself up. And I know he’s getting paid over there and everybody else is getting pennies on the dollar. I’m like, ‘Why would you do that!?’ He clearly isn’t the guy. He needs you. Why don’t everybody leave the show and let’s watch him do it for a minute. That show would be dead, immediately,” Stoute said.
After Sharpe’s sudden departure from Undisputed, Bayless hired Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin, and Keyshawn Johnson, and Lil Wayne as regular contributors. However, the overhaul has done nothing to improve the show’s viewership. Undisputed remains far behind First Take in terms of average daily viewers. Many have questioned just how long Fox will continue to try and win a war they have long since lost.
Stoute has found himself in the news a lot recently. Stoute accused Diddy of assaulting him in 1999, per a report from Radar Online. According to Stoute, Diddy “attacked” him following a disagreement on the set of Nas‘ “Hate Me Now” video. Diddy reportedly had a change of heart about being nailed to a cross in the Jesus-themed video. Stoute objected to the change, given that the scene had been Diddy’s idea and Stoute had spent $14K to make it happen. Per the National Enquirer and a police report, Diddy and two bodyguards physically assaulted Stoute in his office after the scene was not removed.
“One minute I’m in the middle of a meeting. And the next minute I’m down on the floor and Puffy and his guys are kicking and pounding me. One of them picks up a chair and throws it at me. Then Puffy throws my desk over and they just walk out like nothing happened. My jaw and my head were all swollen. It was a traumatic experience, and in the middle of it, I didn’t know exactly how to feel. I was upset. Embarrassed. Scared. Angry. As far as I’m concerned, this was an attempt on my life. The only reason I’m not dead is because they missed,” Stoute told The Times. However, he later asked for the charges to be dropped after the rapper apologized.
Cam’ron took a shot at Skip Bayless after he and Ma$e were ranked higher than the Undisputed host on Complex‘s list of sports personalities. “Congrats 2 my big bros @stephenasmith and @shannonsharpe84 for securing the top spots!! And Thx @complex for the write up. Number 6 ain’t bad for our 9th month in business. And everyone before us is on TV.. we appreciate y’all!! Here’s some others on the list!! Hey skip!! Down there lol Yeah Murder!!! @rsvpmase @itiswhatitis_talk And thank you @underdogfantasy,” Cam’ron wrote on Instagram.
It Is What It Is has quickly become a fan-favorite sports show, despite the lack of sports expertise and it’s unorthodox home on YouTube. While there were rumblings earlier in the year that a major network was in talks to acquire the show, that does not appear to have come to pass. However, Cam’ron has been transparent about aiming high. His latest hints suggested that a major NBA legend will soon be joining the show’s main cast. It remains to be seen if that will still occur. However, It Is What It Is‘ star is shining bright and set to only shine brighter in 2024.
However, losing out to Cam’ron and Ma$e isn’t the only thing that Bayless has had to deal with this week. According to Front Office Sports, over the last week of November and the first week of December, First Take averaged more than 5.5 times the viewership of Undisputed. Furthermore, November finished with the best monthly viewership figures in the 16-year history of First Take.
The gap between the two shows has only continued to grow over the second half of 2023. Despite a complete retooling, Undisputed has been unable to bounce back from losing Shannon Sharpe to ESPN back in June. No matter what Skip Bayless tries, including getting a live college commitment announcement on the show, nothing is helping close the gap with the Stephen A. Smith-led vehicle. Not even adding the likes of Lil Wayne has helped Undisputed catch up.
