Sports and entertainment
June 14, 2023 | 8:20 p.m
Stephen A. Smith gave Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless their flowers for the way they publicly handled their breakup.
Smith, who previously worked with Bayless on ESPN’s “First Take,” discussed on FanDuel his tear-jerking show between FS1’s “Undisputed” partners earlier this week.
“I’ll admit I was a little surprised,” said Smith.
“I was surprised by the tears. I was surprised by the emotion. I’m pretty sure some people thought it was fake as hell. I don’t feel that way.”
“I know Shannon Sharpe quite a bit. I know Skip Bayless very well. Every single person on the planet connected to the world of sports knows how far Skip Bayless and I go with each other. And to be honest with you, I was really proud of the way they ended their time together.”
The Post first reported that Sharpe and Fox Sports had reached a purchase agreement months after two on-air incidents occurred during this past NFL season.
Smith said he hasn’t spoken to either Sharpe or Bayless about it, and hinted that there must be some hard feelings with the show ending after nearly seven years right after the NBA Finals.
“But I have to tell you, it could not have been handled better by Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless,” said Smith.
“When you leave in the business world, that’s how you do it. I’ve left a few places. I didn’t say much but I sure didn’t do it well.”
“Shannon made all the great points he should have made, because it’s true, and there’s no one on the planet who can relate better to what Shannon Sharpe said to Skip Bayless than I can – and that’s what Skip Bayless gave him the opportunity. Shannon Sharpe is never a part of.” Undisputed “If It Weren’t for Skip Bayless”.
Smith reiterated that he did not know what happened between the two to cause the partnership to dissolve.
Smith called Sharp “a very important player in this industry” now, despite not being at CBS — and that he’s been there since his time on Undisputed.
Smith previously extended an invitation for Sharpe to join him in a weekly spot on “First Take”.
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