*Skip Bayless is speaking out about Shannon Sharpe’s tearful exit from FS1’s “Undisputed” on Tuesday.
“I was so proud of what Shannon and I had accomplished together against such long odds,” said Bayless on Thursday’s episode of his Fox Sports podcast, “The Skip Bayless Show.”
“What a run we had together, nearly seven years’ worth. That’s nearly 4,300 live, on-air hours sitting across from each other at that debate desk, battling, laughing, haggling over bets on games,” he continued, New York Post reports.
“When I shared that figure with my wife, Ernestine, her response was, ‘You spent more time with him than you spent with me.’ Well, not exactly true. But it did sometimes feel that way. Which meant that in a way, Shannon and I were kind of a married couple on TV.”
Sharpe officially signed out as co-host of FS1’s “Undisputed” in Tuesday’s episode.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is officially my last day at work,” Sharpe told viewers, New York Post reports. “After seven years, the train stops for Shannon Sharpe and ‘Undisputed’ right here.”
We reported previously that Shannon and Fox Sports decided on a buyout agreement and parted ways amicably, according to the New York Post.
Sharpe also had an emotional message for Bayless during his last show — watch the Twitter clip below.
Unc Shannon sharpe got emotional thanking Skip bayless ????????❤️???? pic.twitter.com/RhkOpX353L
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) June 13, 2023
Many sports fans believe the tension between Sharpe and Bayless over the past few months led to Shannon’s exit. On his podcast, Bayless said he looked forward to Sharpe’s debate points after a big game.
“I started thinking about me against an NFL Hall of Famer, instead of just a fellow journalist,” Bayless recalled. “I started to like it, and we plunged. In our first staff meeting, Shannon told the group he wanted to become the first ex-athlete to prove that he could talk about all sports on TV, not just the one he played. And did Shannon ever prove that.”
Bayless added, “But the truth is what I loved most about working with Shannon was, and this is no small thing, he dedicated himself to the process of preparing for ‘Undisputed’ just like he dedicated himself to playing pro football.”
According to Bayless, Sharpe’s work ethic was admirable.
“Most debates are won the night before by doing your homework, your research, formulating your argument,” Bayless said.
“Shannon prepared hard, and on-air, Shannon competed even harder. Shannon never took a sick day. Shannon was never, ever late. You say, ‘Oh that’s no big deal.’ No, it’s a huge deal to me. Being prepared and on time is the mortar of a successful TV show. Shannon always prepared, always on time, day after day after day.”
WATCH:
READ MORE: Shannon Sharpe Officially Signs Off from ‘Undisputed’ | Watch
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