Exiting from Undisputed, Shannon Sharpe became one of sports media’s hottest free agents. Now, he’s set to join forces with Stephen A Smith on the sizzling First Take. Previously, Sharpe was Smith’s direct rival on Fox Sports’ televised Undisputed, where he teamed up with Smith’s former colleague, Skip Bayless. His recent decision to join ESPN and Stephen A Smith on First Take promises to supercharge one of TV’s most popular sports shows. Sharpe will debut alongside Smith on Monday, guaranteed to grab massive attention.
Smith recently opened up about why he wanted Sharpe by his side, revealing that it’s about more than just improving First Take. There’s a deeper connection. With Monday on the horizon and fans eagerly awaiting the dynamic duo, a video has surfaced, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the exciting future of First Take.
Stephen A. Smith and Shannon argue the decades-long debate
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In a recent installment of Club Shay Shay, Shannon and Smith engage in a wide-ranging discussion around the latest happenings in the sports world. Their conversation delves into personal and debatable subjects, with one particularly spirited topic centering around the enduring debate of LeBron James versus Michael Jordan.
Yeah, Shannon Sharpe on First Take gonna be chaotic pic.twitter.com/uL0REmegrP
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) September 1, 2023
The snippet offers a sneak peek into the engaging dialogue fans can anticipate when Shannon joins Stephen A. on First Take.
Fans are already excited over the snippet. The potential conversations between the two promise to be stern and direct; leaving nothing to be desired.
Shannon will appear alongside Smith twice a week
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Shannon Sharpe will be a guest every Monday and Tuesday during the NFL season. The exciting collaboration comes after Sharpe departed from the FS1 show Undisputed over two months ago. Since leaving, Sharpe has been vocal about his desire to join Stephen.
Smith and Molly Qerim are regulars since Qerim took on the full-time hosting role in 2015. After Bayless left ESPN in 2016, Max Kellerman filled the role for six years before his departure. Following Kellerman’s exit, First Take welcomed a rotating cast of guest debaters, including Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, JJ Redick, and Dan Orlovsky.
Notably, Sharpe has prior experience of appearing on First Take. It came before his time at Undisputed when Bayless was still with ESPN. His contributions during those appearances left a lasting impression, convincing Bayless and authorities of Sharpe to be an ideal addition.
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Sharpe’s arrival marks a significant part of ESPN’s new strategy. It is prioritizing quality over quantity, which led to a series of personnel changes at the company. On the other hand, Skip Bayless has also announced changes to the Undisputed roster. It will feature rapper Lil Wayne on the show every Friday and introduce Richard Sherman as a new debate partner.