*Skip Bayless is diving back into sports media with a new podcast, “The Arena: Gridiron,” alongside former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, ex-NFL cornerback Aqib Talib, and former NFL coach Jay Gruden.
According to Awful Announcing, the show, set to premiere next Tuesday and air three times a week, will be hosted by social media influencer Kinsey Wolanski. Produced by Underdog, the same company behind Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena,” the podcast will also feature guest appearances from former NFL players Gerald McCoy and Cody Kessler.
“I’m not exaggerating to you,” Bayless told The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. “I’m telling you, the God’s truth, I’m more on fire for this than I have ever been.”
Bayless expressed no hesitation about partnering with Arenas, despite an ongoing FBI investigation into allegations of Arenas’ involvement in an illegal gambling operation. “They have no concerns,” Bayless said.
“I’ve talked to Gil. He has no concerns. I mean, he’s obviously concerned, but he believes he did nothing at all wrong, except rent out his space, and I believe in him,” he added.
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The veteran broadcaster, who left FS1 in 2024 after eight years co-hosting “Undisputed,” is no stranger to controversy himself. He was recently named in a lawsuit by former FS1 hairstylist Noushin Faraji, who alleged Bayless offered her money for sex, though the lawsuit was dismissed earlier this month, suggesting a possible settlement, per Awful Announcing.
Bayless’ departure from “Undisputed” followed a challenging period for the show after co-host Shannon Sharpe left in 2023. The program struggled to maintain its earlier success with a rotating panel of co-hosts, failing to overtake ESPN’s “First Take” in popularity. Now, Bayless is eager to return to the debate stage.
“I’m back in the saddle in the debate arena,” Bayless said. “I live for this. I love this. And I’m not one who curses, but they actually worked me into such a frenzy in the rehearsals that I came close to uttering my first F-bomb.”
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Skip Bayless Exiting ‘Undisputed’ This Summer
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