Sports TV News
Stephen A. Smith: ‘I Am A Winner, Bro. I Am Not Trying to Lose’
“I don’t worry about fans. Hell with that. You watch me for a reason. It ain’t the other way around. My attitude is this is my job and it’s what the hell I’m going to do.”
Published
2 years agoon
By
Ricky Keeler
Whenever Stephen A. Smith is on another podcast or you see him making a guest appearance somewhere, he knows how much of an influence that he is because of who he is and who he represents.
Smith was a guest on the most recent episode of The Pivot Podcast with Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and Ryan Clark and told the trio that what makes him one of the most, if not the most influential person in sports media is the trust that ESPN shows in him.
“The biggest thing that makes me influential is the trust that they have in me. When I’m on a podcast or a news network, they don’t worry about me the way they would worry about other folks because they know I understand that I get the big picture,” said Smith.
“I am constantly aware of the fact that I don’t just represent me, I represent ESPN. As a result, I have to take into account what they think and what they feel… They appreciate that because I’m not throwing them into the bowl with me.”
Whenever Smith makes a point during a debate, he is very confident in what he says and it does not matter to him what any fan or player thinks.
“I’m incredibly confident in what I say. Meaning that I pride myself in being a human being,” he said. “I know I’m not trying to get personal and I know I’m just doing my job. I don’t worry about fans. Hell with that. You watch me for a reason. It ain’t the other way around. My attitude is this is my job and it’s what the hell I’m going to do.”
Sometimes, Smith can be hard on athletes for some of the things that they do. However, he says he is trying to protect those athletes from people who try to change their character off of one mistake.
“What I mean by that is I don’t try to protect players from being held accountable for what they do. I try to protect players from being character-assassinated as to who they are,” said Smith. “We have all made mistakes. What I’m not going to do as a black man in a position of influence is allow folks to look at another black athlete… I’m never going to allow somebody to look at y’all and say this is who you are because of something you did.
“For me to get in that position and forget that inherent responsibility that I believe I am supposed to have to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. To provide perspective is very, very important to me. It doesn’t mean I have to agree with everything. What it means is I try to articulate where you are coming from so people can understand that and judge it according to that.”
The respect goes as deep as the conversation today on The Pivot with @stephenasmith @Realrclark25 @FredTaylorMade @OfficialCrowder
— Pivot Podcast (@thepivot) March 22, 2022
Live at noon eastern: https://t.co/3pWr7IqfRV pic.twitter.com/nkR9bizFJh
Even though Smith can show a variety of different moods away from the camera, he knows that when he’s on television, it’s about making sure that the audience is tuning in and stops flipping the channels because they want to hear him.
“I’m a multitude of things. I can be mellow, I can be loud, I can be bombastic or demonstrative, I can be quiet, I can be pissed off and mean as hell,” Smith said. “I can be very jovial and fun-loving. It all depends on what the moment calls for. None of us are truly, truly one-dimensional.”
“What I would tell you about me on television is this. I believe this in my soul. I am a winner, bro. I am not trying to lose. In television, it is about ratings and revenue. My whole position is who do you want to watch when you flip the channels?” he continued.
“When you are flipping through the channels, who are you going to stop and say let me see what this person has to say? In my mind, it is always me because I’m trying to show you that I am passionate and enthused about what we are talking about. I can’t do that if I’m mellow chilling in my house. I am projecting and asking the audience to stop what they are doing to watch me.”
Even though the show First Take was on the rise when Smith was debating Skip Bayless, he told the trio that whenever people would talk about the show to him years ago, he always gave credit to Bayless because in his mind, it was his show. Once Bayless left, it became Smith’s show in his eyes, as talented as Max Kellerman is:
“The moment Skip was gone, it was mine just like when I was there, it was Skip’s,” Smith said. “Once 2016 came, those four years that we were together, go back and read my clips. I don’t give a damn how much my star supposedly was rising. I always made it clear it was Skip’s show because he brought me there. He knew the formula for which the show would work, I followed his lead and I became what I am for First Take because of him.
“The same applies to anybody that comes to First Take now because just like he set the stage for me, I am setting the show for everybody.”
Ricky Keeler is a reporter for BSM with a primary focus on sports media podcasts and national personalities. He is also an active podcaster with an interest in pursuing a career in sports media. You can find him on Twitter @Rickinator555 or reach him by email at [email protected].
Sports TV News
Bob Cole, Voice of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ Has Died
“Thank you for decades of love for his work, love of Newfoundland and love of hockey.”
Published
12 mins agoon
April 25, 2024By
BSM Staff
Bob Cole, the legendary voice of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ has died at the age of 90.
“Thank you for decades of love for his work, love of Newfoundland and love of hockey,” his daughter, Megan Cole, told CBC News. She said her father had been healthy “up until the very end.”
Cole began his tenure as the play-by-play man on Hockey Night in Canada way back in 1969 when the games were carried by CBC Radio. When HNIC moved to TV in 1973, Cole came along. He was best known for his “Oh, baby!” catchphrase.
Fifty years later, Cole was finally done as a hockey broadcaster. He announced that 2018-19 would be his final season in the booth before the season had begun. April 6, 2019, his career came to an end with a Maple Leafs’ shootout loss to the Montreal Canadians.
Sports TV News
Report: Bill Belichick to Have Recurring Role on ManningCast
The report he also notes there could be a podcast in the works for Belichick through Omaha Productions.
Published
1 day agoon
April 24, 2024By
BSM Staff
Last week an ESPN.com report on former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said he was close to signing a deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. A new report from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic says all signs point to Belichick being a recurring guest on Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, also known as the ManningCast.
Belichick recently announced on The Pat McAfee Show he will take part in their Draft Spectacular on Thursday night for day 1 of the NFL Draft. McAfee has stated on a couple of occasions that he would like to have Belichick as a regular guest on his show, as he has done previously with Aaron Rodgers and Nick Saban.
In Marchand’s report he also notes there could be a podcast in the works for Belichick through Omaha Productions. The Athletic and ESPN have previously reported Belichick is also writing a book which will focus on leadership.
So, while not coaching this season, Belichick looks to stay very busy. Those close to the second winningest NFL head coach of all time, believe his plans are to be back on the sidelines next season.
Sports TV News
Joy Taylor, MJ Acosta-Ruiz to Co-Host Fuse Media ‘Like a Girl’ Series
“We remain steadfast in our mission to create and distribute content that ignites the ambitions of the next generation of trailblazing women.”
Published
1 day agoon
April 24, 2024By
BSM Staff
Fuse Media is embarking on a second season of Like A Girl, which includes conversations with athletes, executives and coaches who own the aforementioned phrase. The series grants viewers perspectives regarding issues that women face on and off the field, including equal pay, mental and reproductive health and race inequality. The company named Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz the hosts of the show, building off their chemistry that began with a friendship while attending Barry University.
Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz are also executive producers of the show, which will premiere over the summer. Outside of her work with Fuse Media, Taylor is the host of Speak on FOX Sports 1 featuring LeSean McCoy, Emmanuel Acho and James Jone. Additionally, she co-hosts the Two Personal lifestyle podcast with Taylor Rooks. Acosta-Ruiz is the host of NFL Total Access and co-host of the El Huddle Podcast through NFL Media. Moreover, she works with women’s empowerment groups including A Seat at the Table and aspires to continue amplifying voices of marginalized communities.
Previous guests on the show have included Olympic medalist April Ross, WNBA player Angel McCoughtry and Paralympic three-time champion Anastasia Pagonis. The first season of the series was a six-part program that was previously hosted by Beija Marie Velez that premiered last March.
In addition to the return of Like A Girl, Fuse Media has announced the creation of She Leads, a series of short-form videos that aim to inspire the next generation to shatter glass ceilings. The series will be focusing on highlighting the women who break barriers and subsequently inspire others. The short-form videos are aimed to connect with social media-focused audiences and encourage women to advocate for themselves and defy stereotypes.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to create and distribute content that ignites the ambitions of the next generation of trailblazing women,” Tania Campos, head of affiliate marketing and special projects at Fuse Media, said in a statement. “By amplifying women’s voices, we not only celebrate their leadership but also catalyze meaningful action through an engaging mentorship series, impactful narratives, and entertaining content.”
Last week, Fuse Media agreed to a partnership with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and the El Rey Rebel FAST Channel to start a Friday Night Fight series set to commence on Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. EST. The series will look back at memorable fights of the past, including De La Hoya’s bout against Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas.
On the following Saturday, May 11, the company will air Combate Global MMA, the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise that is exclusive to Fuse Media in English. Lucero “La Loba” Acosta will square off against Alejandra “Azul” Lara in a three-round flyweight main event live from Miami airing on Fuse at a start time to be determined.
