After seven years arguing against Skip Bayless on Undisputed, Shannon Sharpe seemingly found it hard to remember Stephen A. Smith‘s name when making his First Take debut on Monday.
Discourse on the latest in sports went well aside from the two times Sharpe called Smith “Skip” during the live broadcast.
“The lions were picked to win that division Skip….I’m sorry. Stephen A,” Sharpe tells Smith.
Smith appeared understanding as he told Sharpe, “It’s alright. It’s alright.”
Later on in the live show, Sharpe slipped up again while sharing an old NFL story about Ben Coates, the former tight end with the New England Patriots.
“You know what, Skip,” Sharpe said before immediately catching his mistake. But again, Smith said “It’s OK,” with Sharpe acknowledging how long he served on his previous post.
“It’s been seven years. Stephen A!” he quipped.
In May, it was announced that Sharpe was leaving FS1’s Undisputed with Bayless. Fox Sports reached a buyout with Sharpe that ended his time on the show, the network, along with his podcast, Club Shay Shay, NBC Sports reports.
Ahead of Sharpe’s tearful exit in June, there was clear friction between him and Bayless following Skip’s callous remarks about Damar Hamlin‘s cardiac arrest earlier this year. Sharpe was noticeably absent from the show the day after Bayless made his comments.
Elsewhere, the pair got into a squabble on air in December 2022 when Bayless seemingly shunned Sharpe’s NFL career to defend Tom Brady.
Stephen A. Smith hosted First Take with Bayless for four years up until Bayless left ESPN for Fox Sports in 2016. The pair have taken subtle jabs at each other on their television shows and podcasts over the years.
Most recently, Smith denied Bayless’ claims of not being the cause for a probationary period First Take was placed on during their time hosting together.
“Skip left some things out when speaking on some past First Take moments,” Smith tweeted last week along with a video clip.
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