ESPN’s most popular show, “First Take,” underwent a transformation this month after Stephen A. Smith reportedly had partner Max Kellerman dropped from the show.
Smith confirmed as much while appearing on the “Sports Illustrated Media Podcast” with Jimmy Traina on Thursday, explaining why he felt like the show needed a shake up.
“I thought it ran its course,” Smith said. “Even though we were No. 1. Numbers were dipping. Chemistry was an issue and you know, we needed to be better. I wasn’t pointing the finger at him. I was saying we did not work as a pair.”
Smith and Kellerman had been together on the show since July 2016 and remained No. 1 in the TV ratings since he replaced Skip Bayless.
Yet, Smith made it clear that there was no bad blood between them — instead he just felt like the audience was telling them they were no longer working together.
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“I think that Max is one of the nicest guys in the world,” Smith continued. “He’s incredibly knowledgeable about his boxing and other sports, by the way. I knew that there wer a plethora of opportunities within the company for him to be a part of, which has been proven. … I think that people get construed thinking, you know what Stephen A. doesn’t like Max. It couldn’t be further from the truth. I like him and respect him.
“We just weren’t working anymore because the audience was telling us that we had essentially flatlined. We were the same. We weren’t fresh together. And so a result of that I told the bosses how I felt. Wishing him nothing but the best. Rooting for him. Making sure everybody knows if he needed me I wouldn’t hesitate to. Be there for him, but I’m not going to apologize for anybody, to anybody rather, for being committed to winning. If I believe I’m part of a formula that’s not going to win any longer I’m going to change that formula. Whether it’s me moving on or them moving on. And that is the way I have always been. And that is the way I will continue to be.”
Traina followed up by asking Smith if Kellerman agreed with his assessment.
“No, he did not,” Smith said without further elaborating.
Kellerman is now on ESPN’s morning radio show and was given his own national television show from 2-3 p.m.
“If I sat up there and I said it’s his fault, that’s a different argument,” Smith said. “That’s not what I said. I said we don’t work together and a decision needs to be made regarding us. That’s what I was taking responsibility for and I will never run from that.”
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