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Stephen A. Smith says there's no beef with him and Pat McAfee despite reported argument [Update]
Update March 9: Stephen A. Smith says there’s no beef between him and fellow ESPN talking head Pat McAfee. ...
Rajah Caruth’s historic NASCAR win is a feel-good story we should all celebrate
It’s simple. Since America loves an underdog, America should be applauding Rajah Caruth....
It's time for FS1 to do something about Skip Bayless and 'Undisputed'
Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed” has hit a dry spell since the departure of NFL Hall of Famer and current ESPN “First Take” analyst, Shannon Sharpe. Bayless’ new crew, which includes former NFL stars, rappers and a highly respected media personality, hasn’t been able to captivate the nation in the same ma...
Ranking the major sports networks from most elitist to Fox Sports
Prestige and journalism shouldn’t go hand-in-hand together. Sure, there are outlets with enough history and money to have ethics departments, fact-checkers, and paying subscribers, but the omnipresent tier — the ones controlling the rights to the big sports — are cost-cutting corporate slugs like th...
JJ Redick says it's 'always an excuse' with Doc Rivers
Former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick is tired of Doc Rivers’ excuses. The First Take host went off on his former coach Tuesday morning, saying how he’s “seen the trend for years....
In this age of unprecendent access, we should take inside info with a grain of salt
We are in the age of the easiest, most direct access we’ve ever seen. That goes triple for sports which can be a good thing. But we’ve gotten to the point where we have so much access that it’s begun to have the opposite effect and become negative in many situations. With all the information thrown ...
Chris Russo was out of line when he called Dan Orlovsky 'a scrub'
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is largely a loveable relic from the sports radio past. He’s strident, over the top, and plays into this character that he created 40 years ago. While doing his “What are you Mad about,” segment on ESPN’s First Take, Russo has admitted that it’s stupid and his antics are ridicu...
The NFL buying ESPN is the final frontier in the effort to kill sports journalism
Last week, my colleague Sean Beckwith wrote about the NFL possibly buying a stake in ESPN, and the potential for the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader in Sports to become nothing more than the PR arm of the most popular league in America (at least, more than it already is). Yesterday, over at The Nat...
This week’s award for grossest act goes to the ATP Tour players
It’s one thing when a sport either ignores or is oblivious to whatever is surrounding a certain player or individual. It’s quite another when they know and just don’t care. Such is the case with this week’s announcement that the ATP Tour players had chosen Alexander Zverev to their players’ council....
Stephen A. Smith says he 'hates' Jason Whitlock, calls him 'a devil'
I did not get the memo that Festivus had been moved from Dec. 23 to the entire month of January. Grievances have been aired and an expansion for that holiday is the only explanation I have for why so many celebrities are beginning the year by verbally going upside the heads of those whom they dislik...
Stephen A. Smith may take a late night television jalopy out for a spin next year
It’s opening night for the 2025 NBA season. After Inside the NBA guffaws its way through the opening game, a portion of the audience siphons off to Apple TV or Prime Video, where Stephen A. Smith is starting his opening monologue. Except he isn’t ranting and raving about Donovan Mitchell and Jalen B...
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on Pat McAfee and, as usual, gets it wrong
Last time I checked, Stephen A. Smith, a man who epitomizes the “embrace really loud debate” and who, just this week, had a man sniffing a female colleague’s shoe on his show, has decided to speak for journalism....
ESPN's <i>First Take</i> continues to be a bizarre cesspool of inappropriate behavior
We already know Dan Orlovsky is an odd character. The former NFL QB — best remembered for running out of the back of his own end zone — admitted on Twitter that he uses his towel at least 30 times before washing it; and once went on The Pat McAfee Show to reveal his wife’s poop schedule....
After defeating Alabama, only haters are still hating on Michigan
Michigan vs. Everybody isn’t just a catchy phrase on a t-shirt. It’s more than a rallying cry when the entire sports world is cheering against you. It’s a declaration that anybody can get it — line ‘em up and knock ‘em down. On Monday night, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide got their names cr...
IDIOT OF THE YEAR 2023: The complete rankings
Welcome to the grand finale of Deadspin’s IDIOT OF THE YEAR festivities. Here’s hoping 2024 will be better. It probably won’t....
IDIOT OF THE YEAR: The annual descent into madness continues (40-31)
Welcome once again, dearest and most beloved reader, to Deadspin’s vaunted IDIOT OF THE YEAR awards, the global phenomenon in which we say churlish things about people we dislike. Huzzah!...
IDIOT OF THE YEAR: The countdown begins as we look back on 2023 (Nos. 50-41)
Dearest reader! We meet again. It is that time of the year again… uh, namely, the end of the year, when we at Deadspin are proud to present our globally acclaimed celebration of stupidity, IDIOT OF THE YEAR! We’ll be with you as we count down the haughtiest, most hypocritical, and just plain dumbest...
I hope Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo knows he’s in Shaq’s dog house
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo got a little carried away Wednesday on First Take. I know, that is his job on the show. The guy invented sports-talk radio volume. His takes are somehow louder than his voice. In small social media clips, I find Mad Dog entertaining. I even find some of his perspectives on life...
The Cowboys and Lions are about to have their destinies — and histories — collide
One team is using this season to show people that they aren’t who they’ve always been. The other is hoping this postseason won’t end like it usually does — with embarrassment. When Detroit travels to Dallas in two weeks, we’ll have a better idea of which team is destined to repeat history....
Give us more Charles Barkley insulting Stephen A. Smith
ESPN and TNT have combined their coverage of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, and as always, Charles Barkley kept things interesting....