Commercializing controversy is something that Skip Bayless does with the utmost finesse. For decades at a stretch, an otherwise seemingly simple man from Oklahoma, Bayless has carved a career by voicing his often unpopular and obnoxious sports opinions. He started as a columnist in major U.S. newspapers, before transitioning into sports talk shows on the radio, and eventually found his place on television. 

Hailed for his appearances on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and currently on Fox’s “Undisputed” with Shannon Sharpe, where he has been able to build a reputation as one of the most infamous sports analysts of all time, he reportedly earns a whopping $8 million annually. However, his route to fame covers numerous on-screen battels, crossfires, and double downs involving the biggest names of the sports world. 

Bayless and his on-screen battles 

Throughout his career, Bayless has clashed with prominent sports figures due to his controversial opinions, often sparking issues of his own making. Fan or foe, both keep notes– it is this very approach to broadcasting that has landed him an expansive audience including a Twitter following of over 3 million people.

He is often referred to as “LeBron’s biggest hater” and “pissed off the entire NFL with his comments on Demar Hamlin,” after he mocked the NFL legend’s admission of suffering from depression following his brother’s suicide. He was already the lead columnist at the Dallas Herald and had written three popular books on the Dallas Cowboys when they were at the peak of their popularity and infamously called out Troy Aman as being gay.

Very few people have been able to shut Skip up, yet Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman made quite an impact on his appearance on ‘First Take’ in 2013. The All-Pro cornerback pounded Bayless on national live television calling him ignorant, pompous, and egotistical. He asked the sports analyst to address him as an “All-Pro Stanford graduate,” and concluded with a harsh, “Those are some accomplishments you can aspire to, but you’ll never accomplish. You have never accomplished anything…”

The only other person to have made such an impact was Jaylen Rose, who exposed the self-professed basketball champ as averaging only 1.4 points per game as a senior in high school. However, when it comes to college football, Bayess has some of his wild opinions stacked up against Colorado’s star which has effectively stirred up some saucy controversy. 

Skip Bayless Doubles Down on Colorado’s QB

Deion Sanders coaching his sons’ college team has attracted both credit and controversy. As Colorado’s star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his brother Shilo Sandres’ college days near their end, people speculate about Sanders’ next moves, especially after Coach Prime’s declaration that his sons will return in 2024 to stay in college football. In a recent ‘Undisputed’ episode, Skip Bayless stirred debate, suggesting Deion Sanders’ son could be the top NFL draft pick in 2024, even ahead of Caleb Williams.

“I still think he could be the first pick in the draft this year between him and Caleb,” expressed Bayless. This falls in line with what Deion Sanders had expressed earlier, drawing attention to the fact that even though many feel Caleb Williams might become the top pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Shedeur is no “backseat rider”. Prime Time is most likely going to play his sons in the coming year and ensure he can build the Buffaloes into a powerhouse before declaring for the NFL Drafts in 2025.

Read More: Labeling Patrick Mahomes as ‘Lucky,’ Skip Bayless Targets Raiders’ QB Jimmy Garoppolo in Blunt Critique

Bayles further suggested that Coach Prime should consider moving beyond the college premises and venture into coaching for the NFL. Popular or unpopular, Skip Bayless outperforms at his job “to make the audience go wild.”

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