Watching Skip Bayless’ Emotional Farewell From ‘First Take’ Actually Makes Me Like The Guy A Little More

Over the past 12 years, Skip Bayless’ voice has filled our living rooms with outspoken opinions and, sometimes, illegitimate rants about the hottest topics in sports that day. And for about the same amount of time, fans have scoffed or rolled their eyes and most of what he has ever said.

With Bayless leaving ESPN today for FOX Sports after signing a lucrative deal a few months ago, his fellow colleagues and crew paid him an emotional farewell that might actually have you appreciating the guy a little more than you did just yesterday.

Look, I know that Bayless is a known troll who pretty much says things that will get a rise out of viewers—especially when the person sitting across the table, usually Stephen A. Smith—is paid to give opposite opinions. But hearing Smith say such kind words about the guy is a reminder that they’re both paid for what they do, but that doesn’t mean it defines them.

After taking one parting shot at LeBron James on Twitter after LBJ led the Cleveland Cavs to an NBA title a couple of days ago—causing some ESPN employees to fire back at Skip—the guy will continue to troll from a different network now, so it’ll be interesting to see if he’s allowed the same leeway to do so.

[H/T Complex]

Nick Dimengo avatar
Nick's a Sr. Editor for BroBible, mainly relying on his Sports Encyclopedia-like mind to write about things. He's also the co-host of the BroBible podcast "We Run This," and can be seen sweating his ass off while frequently running 10+ miles around Seattle.