NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: TV sports commentators Skip Bayless (L) and Shannon Sharpe attends the 2016 IAVA Heroes Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 10, 2016 in New York City.
Skip Bayless knows exactly who he wants as a replacement for Shannon Sharpe on his “Undisputed” FS1 show.
Last month, Sharpe — a four-time Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and three-time Super Bowl champion — left “Undisputed” after co-hosting the show with Bayless for seven years.
Before Bayless teamed up with Sharpe, the former co-hosted ESPN’s “First Take” With Stephen A. Smith.
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
On the latest edition of “The Skip Bayless Show” (h/t Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing), Bayless pleaded for Basketball Hall of Famer and current “NBA on TNT” analyst Charles Barkley to join him at FS1:
“Charles Barkley would be my dream debate partner on Undisputed. I would dive out of bed every morning out here in Los Angeles at two o’clock in the morning to get to work with Charles. Please, Charles, please come and please work with me, this ‘damn idiot.’ What a joy it would be to do battle every day with Charles Barkley live on television.”
https://twitter.com/SkipBaylessShow/status/1676984351693864965
It’s safe to say that many sports fans would love the idea of watching the humorous and entertaining “Sir Charles” work alongside Bayless at FS1.
But last fall, TNT handed Barkley a lucrative 10-year contract extension worth nine figures. It would certainly be difficult for Barkley to handle duties at both TNT and FS1, not to mention his other gigs and life outside of broadcasting.
Former NFL star running back LeSean McCoy was previously rumored to be a top candidate to replace Sharpe on “Undisputed”, but not much has been said on that front lately.
Regardless, Bayless will find a new co-host and TV partner in short time. Barkley would be a wonderful replacement for Sharpe, but the odds of it happening feel close to impossible.
Until the announcement is made, allow the speculation on the next co-host of “Undisputed” to continue.