NFL veteran Shannon Sharpe is now a renowned sports analyst. After 14 seasons playing at the highest level, the 55-year-old is now establishing himself in the sports media landscape. The charismatic and outspoken analyst has yet again sent shockwaves with his newest move. Just a mere two months after bidding farewell to his longtime gig at “Undisputed,” Sharpe has spilled the beans on his next adventure. And it involves none other than the boisterous Stephen A. Smith over at ESPN’s “First Take.”
While the sports realm is still buzzing about this unexpected collaboration, it seems that one particular Miami Heat legend, Dwyane Wade, might be feeling a chill in the air.
Sharpe’s comedic announcement is D-Wade approved
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Shannon Sharpe departed from “Undisputed” on June 13th, a show he had co-hosted alongside Skip Bayless since 2016. The unexpected exit took fans and associates alike by way of wonder, following whispers of a buyout with Fox Sports. Amid the NBA Finals, Sharpe confirmed the rumors. He is no stranger to delivering news with flair, and his confirmation of the ESPN collaboration was no exception.
Taking to social media, he unveiled an amusingly edited image featuring himself and Stephen A. Smith superimposed onto the bodies of iconic duo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
The image was reminiscent of the pair’s Miami Heat days, with ESPN branding cleverly incorporated into the scene. Sharpe captioned the post “Get Your Popcorn Ready” to establish a mood for an entertaining partnership.
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Dwyane Wade, however, seemed to have a different reaction. The basketball legend reposted Sharpe’s image on his Instagram story, but he added a bunch of frozen emojis to convey his feelings for the edit.
Harsh welcome for Shannon Sharpe
As the news of Sharpe’s move broke, without missing a beat, Stephen A. Smith quickly showed the approaching collaboration between the 2 influential figures. Stephen A. Smith, who berated Shaquille O’Neal on live tv, welcomed Sharpe to “First Take” in trademark fashion.
The witty exchange between the two charismatic personalities is undoubtedly anticipated, but it appears that even before their on-screen debates kick off, Smith has already playfully taken jabs at Sharpe.
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Stephen A. 🤝 Shannon Sharpe@ShannonSharpe joins @FirstTake September 4 🍿 pic.twitter.com/zsLMBIMtHc
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2023
Sharpe’s unexpected transition from “Undisputed” to ESPN’s “First Take” shocked many, but it’s clear that he continues to unpredictably captivate the sports industry.
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As the countdown to his debut on “First Take” begins, fans are eagerly awaiting the heated debates, the humorous banter, and the unexpected twists that only Sharpe and Smith can deliver. And it seems that they already have a fan in three-time champion Dwyane Wade.