While Stephen A. Smith may have been pleased to see Max Kellerman depart First Take, he wasn’t as happy about Skip Bayless’s exit. Smith’s concern stemmed not from Bayless’s decision to leave, but from the manner in which it was executed. He expressed his feelings during an hour-long interview on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show alongside Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo.
During the segment, Stern inquired about their media break-ups, pressing Smith on whether he was “pissed” about Bayless’s departure from ESPN’s First Take. Smith shared, “Skip Bayless left for Fox, but he just left for Fox because they threw him a boatload of money. I was pissed at how it was handled because I found out at a later date. He didn’t come to me initially and say this is what’s going on. I found out on my own. I was initially frustrated, but I understood why once I learned about some nuances behind the scenes.”
It’s somewhat surprising to hear that Smith had any issue with Bayless leaving, especially since Bayless’s move to FS1 allowed Smith to take the helm of First Take, a role he has embraced. Smith recognized that he was excluded from the discussions Bayless had with ESPN and FS1, a typical aspect of the industry. He wished he had been more informed, especially given that Bayless had been considering a move to FS1 as far back as 2016. Similarly, it’s likely that Kellerman would have appreciated advance notice when Smith requested to be removed from the show.
In contrast, Smith has openly stated that his split with Max Kellerman was not just a separation; he actively pushed Kellerman out, believing they lacked chemistry after five years together. In Smith’s defense, First Take has undoubtedly increased in prominence since Kellerman’s departure.
