Perhaps we haven’t seen anything yet.
Skip Bayless long has been known for his polarizing, sometimes controversial, opinions on all things sports. But according to the flamboyant TV personality, he’ll really be able to express himself upon joining FOX Sports 1.
Bayless recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he sometimes felt like he was wearing “handcuffs” at ESPN, which he recently left after spending 12 years with the company.
“Too many people in charge at ESPN, for my taste, were a little too fearful,” Bayless said, according to The Reporter. “It’s a Disney network. There are just certain boundaries that you can’t even tiptoe along. Not that we won’t have boundaries at Fox, because we will. (But) they will trust me to go a little deeper. I can be completely honest on everything.”
This is somewhat scary. Given the craziness that often has come out of Bayless’ mouth over the years, it’s difficult to imagine what we’ll be exposed to now that he’s supposedly operating with fewer restrictions.
Then again, this could just be Skip’s way of generating interest for his new FS1 show, which reportedly will air daily from 10 a.m. to noon and go head-to-head with his former ESPN program, “First Take,” which now is co-hosted by Max Kellerman in addition to Stephen A. Smith.
“I’m not suggesting I’m going to become some sort of shock jock because that’s not me,” Bayless told The Reporter. “I say what I say because I believe it from the bottom of my soul and I can back it up. Now I feel like I can be completely honest heart-and-soul with full support from the people above me.”
Buckle up. The takes could be hotter than ever.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube screen grab
