Stephen A. Smith has paid a tribute to Skip Bayless, standing on it that he would never have signed his new ESPN deal of $ 100 million without the help and support of his old sparring partner.
Last week it turned out that the TV personality – who organizes 'first Take' and works as an NBA analyst, podcaster and Talk Show Guest – has agreed to a five -year contract that will pay him on average $ 20 million a year.
Smith, who was said to earn around $ 12 million annually, has risen to become one of the most prominent sports pundits in America.
Former ESPN and FOX Sports Personality Bayless, who spent years on 'First Take', said that Smith has the 'biggest gift from GAB on television' that he has ever seen.
However, there was a time when the 57-year-old had trouble making his voice heard.
Smith has been on 'First Take' for more than a decade and on Monday he revealed that it was Bayless who insisted on him to appear, so that the road was cleared for their arguments about the air between 2012 and 2016.
Stephen A. Smith paid tribute to Skip Bayless after signing his new ESPN deal of $ 100 million
They spent years with the fact on ESPN's 'First Take' after Bayless had insisted that Smith was in the air
“Very few people on the planet Earth know my story better than you,” said Smith during a reunion show with Bayless.
“It started with you. With you and Jamie Horowitz – my former boss at first take – pushing that I am on first take. Are limited to one appearance per week to start.
'Even (then) you had fights to get me in the air. And then to get me to have me five days a week. There is no way on earth that happens without you. Without Jamie Horowitz. So it starts there.
During a long career in Sportmedia, Smith worked in newspapers, radio and television.
'But we all know to be in the position in which I am today, to sign the type of contract I signed today, it does not happen if it was not before the first take and the first take never happens if it was not for Skip Bayless and Jamie Horowitz.
'So I am grateful forever and forever humiliated because there is good luck that is accompanied by something like that. To have people to see your talent, to give and trust in your case. Because trust is a whole, very, very big thing with you, “Smith continued.
'The fact that you knew it would be someone who would bring the same energy, zeal, but the most important thing is that you knew they would not try to undermine you. You have always emphasized that and I have taken that with me the rest of my career. So I thank you my brother, really. '
