As Skip Bayless exited ESPN on Tuesday, it seems many of his now-former colleagues were lining up to kick him on his way out.
Bayless concluded his last episode of “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith, and ESPN radio personality Ryen Russillo made it clear that it was uncomfortable working with the opinionated debater, who leaves for a lucrative deal with FOX.
“The problem is when you disagree with Skip, you’re not allowed to,” Russillo said on his show, co-hosted by former Giants quarterback Danny Kanell. “Then he gets mad at you about it. So, like, nobody wants to deal with it.”
Bayless’ most contrarian fodder over the years was the overwhelming praise heaped on four-time MVP LeBron James. Even after James and his Cavaliers won the NBA championship on Sunday night, bringing Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years, Bayless didn’t back down. That led Russillo to point out that controversial takes are “good for business,” but Bayless often took it too far: On Tuesday’s final episode, he revisited other lightning-rod topics such as Tim Tebow and Robert Griffin III.
“That’s why when the LeBron stuff comes up, if you’re going to be so clearly doctoring the results to keep pushing that you don’t like LeBron or you don’t think he’s any good, then go ahead and keep doing it because it’s clearly great for business,” Russillo said. “But you can’t get mad at other opinion people for being like, ‘Well, that’s just insane and I don’t even know if you believe it.’”
Bayless turned down a reported $4 million annually from ESPN to leave for FOX, where he apparently inked a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $5.5 million per year — plus a $4 million signing bonus.
Respected ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt took his shot at Bayless on Sunday night, referencing his LeBron bashing by saying: “It is time to find a new axe to grind if you have made your living ripping him. Find a new act.”