Deadspin: First Take

Stephen A. Smith Did America A Favor And Flipped Skip Bayless The Bird

Timothy Burke — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:15:25 EST

While I'm hesitant to praise ESPN First Take blowhard Stephen A. Smith for anything, an exception can be made for moments of distinguished valor—or at least doing something every single one of us has wanted to do on multiple occasions, like flipping Skip Bayless the bird. Last week Terrell Suggs called Bayless a douchebag, which means we're on a bit of a roll here. Maybe next week will bring the words to Skip Bayless on which we've been waiting far too long: "You're fired." [ESPN2] More »

Terrell Suggs Called Skip Bayless A "Douchebag"

Timothy Burke — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:05:00 EST

In what might be the first honest and accurate analysis ever presented on ESPN First Take, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs called out Skip Bayless this morning, telling him to "be an analyst, not a douchebag." Suggs plans to next order Bayless to squeeze blood from a rock. More »

Stephen A. Smith Plays Blutarsky To Skip Bayless's Fawning Coed In This First Take Parody Of Animal House

Timothy Burke — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:35:00 EST

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While most of what actually airs on ESPN First Take is unwatchable trash, the show's web content occasionally comes through with evidence there's at least a few people behind the scenes with self-awareness. More »

Soon, ESPN Will Be Nothing But 24 Hours Of People Disagreeing With Skip Bayless

Tommy Craggs — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:46:11 EST

You should read Richard Deitsch on Dana Jacobson's defenestration from ESPN's First Take—as a co-host, she was to Skip Bayless what Dave Garroway was to his pet chimp—but you should really read this ESPN interview with First Take producer Jamie Horowitz, which is a stupid little fractal of everything stupid about the Worldwide Leader. More »

Skip Bayless Finally Faces Down Chris Bosh After A Year Of Calling Him "Bosh Spice"

Barry Petchesky — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:45:08 EDT

Skip Bayless is exceedingly proud of his "Bosh Spice" nickname (a nickname, it should be pointed out, he stole from the internet and claimed as his own). For weeks ESPN has been hyping Bosh's appearance on First Take, and everybody has been hoping for a confrontation on the level of Jim Everett and Jim Rome. ESPN wanted it for the ratings; Bayless for the notoriety; and presumably Bosh because it would feel so very good to throttle Skip Bayless. More »

Lawrence Frank Drops F-Bomb On ESPN's "First Take"

Dashiell Bennett — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EDT

The old Nets coach is still new to live television, so perhaps he wasn't aware that he can still be heard even after a segment ends. Then again, Barkley's been doing this for years and experience hasn't helped him. [YouBeenBlinded] More »

Jay Crawford: ESPN's Resident Hard-Ass

A.J. Daulerio — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:50:09 EDT

This is an excellent story. Take heed, North Jersey adult league recreational baseball pitchers: If you plunk the First Take host in the back of the neck, he may kill you. Full [Sic'd] story after the jump: More »

Fascinating Things You Probably Don't Want to Know: Skip Bayless Is Ripped

A.J. Daulerio — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:45:43 EST

Skip Bayless is easy to despise for many reasons, most of which stem from the fact that he walked away from a very encouraging career as a print journalist for a new, more lucrative one as...whatever he does by senselessly arguing on "First Take." But would it make him more or less tolerable if you found out that hidden beneath those brown blazers and dopey buttoned-downs is the athletic body of a man half of his age? Here's a report from one former Bristol intern: "I remember entering the gym just to buy something from the store (they're connected - the store and the gym) and seeing him working out. Totally chiseled. Went to look around the gym (I had just started so was kind of taking a tour of the place) and he's was in towel in the locker room... the guy is absurdly ripped." And when asked by this particular former intern if there was any particular body type that would best describe Bayless? "Think Ed Norton in American History X — but without the swastikas." More »