Stephen A Smith Reportedly Wants to Form the Worst "Big 3" of All Time
As you know, Max Kellerman is getting the boot from First Take. Andrew Marchand at The New York Post reported that Stephen A Smith wanted Kellerman off the show, and so ESPN brass granted that wish.
Smith allegedly has more wishes, and one of those is to form a “Big 3” with Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon, according to Marchand:
Next up, Magic Johnson.
Smith wants to team up with Johnson, according to sources, possibly on “NBA Countdown,” the pregame show that leads into the NBA Finals and other marquee games.
Smith’s ideal setup would be to have a Big 3 that also includes “Pardon the Interruption” co-host Michael Wilbon, who often works alongside Smith on “SportsCenter.”
Nothing is finalized, so it hasn’t been determined whether the potential show would have a traditional host.
Magic Johnson? Have you listened to Magic or read any of his tweets in the past year or so? With all due respect to one of the greatest of all time, Magic has not said anything remotely interesting in at least 365 days. An entire calendar year. His analysis and television contribution amounts to what “Captain Obvious” from the Hotels.com commercials would tell you.
As for Wilbon, those early days of PTI were great. Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser as a sports duo on a well-produced show. Loved it. Problem with Wilbon is that he’s kind of cranky now. He’s given some horrendous anti-Process takes, and while he knows the NBA, he’s not somebody you’d turn to for incisive insight and analysis. It seems like Stephen A just wants “his guys” on the desk while he runs the show.
Anyway, ESPN is so bizarre right now. It seems like there’s a major shakeup every five days. This person leaves, another is forced out, or suspended, or the radio lineup is reshuffled again. It makes you appreciate the stability of the halcyon ESPN days, with charismatic anchors who just gave you the sports highlights without all of the associated bullshit. Bring us back to the era of Stuart Scott and Rich Eisen and Dan Patrick.