ESPN's Stephen A. Smith yesterday during ESPN's Upfront said "First Take" is "my show now" with next month's departure of Skip Bayless to FS1, according to Stephen Battaglio of the L.A. TIMES. Smith said he is "going to miss" Bayless, but he added, "We move on. Because the bosses informed me that it's my show now." Smith: "Obviously we're going to make room for somebody else to replace Skip. ... But since I'm leading the way I just have to remind them that they can expect insightful, very provocative commentary and people will be watching" (L.A. TIMES, 5/18). FOXSPORTS.com's Clay Travis noted Fox Sports National Networks President Jamie Horowitz is "making a big bet that Bayless's audience is portable." If Bayless is "worth his salary then sports television is moving even more into a superstar era, pay the top talent because they, like the athletes and coaches they talk about, produce wins and ratings no matter where they are." Audience portability "is the single most valuable asset anyone in media can have today." Given how "rapidly technology is evolving, it matters more than anything" (FOXSPORTS.com, 5/16).
ENTER THE RING: SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy noted Smith appearing on SiriusXM's "Mad Dog Radio" with Chris Russo on Monday challenged former ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling "to a public debate" after Schilling last week "called ESPN an 'outwardly bigoted' organization on 'The Dan Patrick Show.'" Schilling has also "charged that a politically correct ESPN punishes political conservatives such as himself -- while looking the other way when liberal on-air talkers such as Smith, Tony Kornheiser and Dan Le Batard express their views." Smith "countered that Schilling got canned because he wouldn't listen when ESPN bosses told their on-air talent to avoid politics," and not "because of his rightward political leanings." Schilling yesterday "didn't pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Smith," but "given that Schilling can't seem to stop talking about ESPN, or politics, it probably wouldn't take much prodding to get him to say yes." McCarthy: "Memo to ESPN: Make this happen in a hurry. It will be ratings gold." What "better way for ESPN to get past the Bayless era by having Smith fearlessly take on ESPN's biggest critic?" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 5/17). In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote there is "no way ESPN suits will provide Schilling the platform to participate in such an extravaganza." So the "place for debate" should be on "Mad Dog Sports Radio." Raissman wants to see if the two analysts "have the scallions to take their shots face-to-face rather than from a distance" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/15).
