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In early March, former ESPN radio host and personality Dan LeBatard made headlines by claiming that we are witnessing “the end” of longtime hot take artist Skip Bayless.
According to Sports Media Watch, Bayless’ Undisputed brought in a record-low 50,000 viewers on Tuesday, February 27. On that same day, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe were watched by 486,000 people on ESPN’s First Take.
“We’re watching the end of Skip Bayless because his numbers, those numbers are so bad,” Le Batard said on his radio show.
“We were doing twice those numbers on ESPN News,” Le Batard continued. “Like, he’s coming to the end of his contract, and Nick Wright is here to have the money that FOX has to offer… Skip Bayless underestimated that he needed Shannon Sharpe for that show to be successful.”
LeBatard is referencing the fact that Sharpe, who was previously Bayless’ co-host on Undisputed, signed a contract with ESPN prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season and has since re-upped his deal through the remainder of the NBA season, which concludes with the NBA Finals in June.
Bayless’ current crop of co-hosts includes Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, Richard Sherman, and Rachel Nichols.
News: @ShannonSharpe to continue as a regular @FirstTake guest joining @stephenasmith & @MollyQerim thru the remainder of the NBA reg. season with a new contract extension
Friday, Stephen A. & Shannon go head-to-head as coaches in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (7p ET, ESPN) pic.twitter.com/mrPtPdyfXk
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 16, 2024
In an effort to recuse Bayless’ hemorrhaging sports talk show, a report from the New York Post indicates that former Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce is set to join the show. Pierce was employed by ESPN a few years ago but was let go after posting some controversial and explicit content on social media.
Pierce has also made some head-scratching comments since he retired from the NBA, such as claiming and then walking back that he soiled his pants during the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Pierce has also been involved in a few lawsuits, as he got caught up in a crypto scheme and allegedly had some unpaid gambling debt.
During his Hall of Fame NBA career, Pierce also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizardss, and Los Angeles Clippers.