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Skip Bayless
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==Career== ===Print journalism=== Bayless went directly from Vanderbilt to ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', where he wrote sports features for a little more than two years. He then took a position at the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in August 1976. There, he was best known for investigative stories on the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]' clubhouse resentment of "golden boy" [[Steve Garvey]] and his celebrity wife [[Cyndy Garvey|Cyndy]], and on [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] owner [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]'s behind-the-scenes decisions to start different quarterbacks each week. Bayless won the [[Eclipse Award]] for Outstanding Newspaper Writing in 1977 for his coverage of [[Seattle Slew]]'s [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]] victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drf.com/events/past-eclipse-award-winners|title=Past Eclipse Award Winners|work=Daily Racing Form|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> At 26, Bayless was hired by ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' to write its lead sports column, and three years later, joined the ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]''. This caught the attention of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', prompting the paper to do a story on the development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/2007/12/espns_print_fetish.html|title=The Wall Street Journal misreads ESPN's appetite for top print journalists|last=Shafer|first=Jack|date=December 21, 2007|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> Bayless was voted Texas sportswriter of the year by the [[National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association]] three times (1979, 1984 and 1986).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/latestnews/2016/08/01/skip-bayless-joins-fox-sports|title=Skip Bayless Joins FOX Sports|date=August 1, 2016|work=Fox Sports|access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> In 1989, Bayless wrote his first book, ''God's Coach: The Hymns, Hype and Hypocrisy of Tom Landry's Cowboys'', about the rise and fall of [[Tom Landry]]'s [[Dallas Cowboys]]. Following the Cowboys' [[Super Bowl]] victory in 1993, Bayless wrote ''The Boys: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys' Season on the Edge'', and following the third Cowboys Super Bowl win in four seasons, Bayless wrote a third book about the Cowboys, ''Hell-Bent: The Crazy Truth About the "Win or Else" Dallas Cowboys''. ''Hell-Bent'' caused a stir, in part, because in the course of writing about the conflict between Cowboys coach [[Barry Switzer]] and star quarterback [[Troy Aikman]], Bayless reported on speculation by Switzer and people close to him within the Dallas organization that Aikman was gay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboysheadlines/2011/08/31/troy-aikman-hints-he-might-deck-skip-bayless-if-two-were-to-meet-|title=Dallas Cowboys: Troy Aikman hints he might deck Skip Bayless if two were to meet|date=August 2011|publisher=SportsDay|access-date=11 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022205048/http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboysheadlines/2011/08/31/troy-aikman-hints-he-might-deck-skip-bayless-if-two-were-to-meet-|archive-date=October 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1998, Bayless left Dallas after 17 years and become the lead sports columnist for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. In his first year there, Bayless won the [[Lisagor Award]] for excellence in sports column writing, presented by the Chicago Headline Club (the Chicago chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/10/tribunes-bayless-wins-major-award/|title=Tribune's Bayless Wins Major Award|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|date=May 10, 1999 |access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2000, he was voted Illinois sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/04/29/tribunes-bayless-honored/|title=Tribune's Bayless honored|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|date=April 29, 2001 |access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> Bayless left the ''Chicago Tribune'' in July 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/07/16/leaving-this-space-with-fond-memories/|title=Leaving this space with fond memories|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|date=July 16, 2001 |access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> Bayless's work has also appeared in various national sports publications, including ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1010499/index.htm Skip Bayless, "Mail Bonding", ''Sports Illustrated,'' August 4, 1997]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ===Radio=== In 1991, Bayless began a two-year stint hosting a sports talk radio show from 6โ8 p.m. Monday through Friday for Dallas radio station [[KLIF-AM|KLIF]]. In 1994, he became one of the original investors in the Fort Worth radio station [[KTCK (AM)|KTCK]] ("the Ticket"), and hosted ''The Skip Bayless Show'' from 6โ9 a.m. weekdays from 1994 to 1996. In 1996, the original owners sold the station to [[Cumulus Media]], which bought out Bayless's contract. Also in the mid-1990s, he was a frequent guest on [[ESPN Radio]]'s first national weekday show, ''[[The Fabulous Sports Babe]]''. After moving to Chicago, he began making regular appearances on [[Chet Coppock]]'s show on the [[Yahoo! Sports Radio|Sporting News Radio]] network, ''Coppock On Sports''. In 2001, he became the primary guest host of the syndicated radio program, ''[[The Jim Rome Show]]''. Soon thereafter, Bayless began co-hosting a weekend show on [[ESPN Radio]] with former ''[[SportsCenter]]'' anchor [[Larry Beil]], which aired until 2004, when he moved full-time into television. ===Television=== In 1989, Bayless joined host [[Dick Schaap]] as a panelist on ESPN's ''[[The Sports Reporters]]'', and over the next decade, he was a regular on the Sunday morning show. In 1992, Bayless became a member of the original debate team on ''NFL Prime Monday''{{'}}s "Knights of the Roundtable" segments with [[Mitch Albom]] and [[Michael Wilbon]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} In 1999 and 2000, he provided commentary for the [[Golf Channel]] from the major golf championships.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} In 2001 and 2002, Bayless appeared regularly on [[Jim Rome]]'s show on [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]], ''The Last Word''. He also made frequent appearances during the same period of time on Fox's ''[[The Best Damn Sports Show Period]]''. When Rome moved to ESPN in 2003, Bayless became a fixture on ''[[Rome is Burning]]''. He was also featured in a weekly Sunday morning ''[[SportsCenter]]'' debate segment with [[Stephen A. Smith]], "Old School/Nu Skool".{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} ====ESPN (2004โ2016)==== [[File:ESPN salutes the troops on its 'First Take' Show 141110-Z-QX261-024.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Bayless (left) with [[Stephen A. Smith]] and [[Cari Champion]] during a ''First Take'' broadcast at [[McGuire Air Force Base]] in 2014]] ESPN hired Bayless full-time in 2004 to team up with Woody Paige of ''[[The Denver Post]]'' in daily debate segments called "1st and 10" on [[ESPN2]]'s ''[[Cold Pizza]]'', and to write columns for [[ESPN.com]]. In May 2007, the show, which had been produced in the network's New York studios, was rebranded as ''[[First Take (talk show)|First Take]]'', and production was moved to the network's headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Around this time, Bayless stopped writing for ESPN.com; he resumed writing columns for the website in August 2012.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} On April 26, 2016, it was reported that Bayless had parted ways with ESPN, and would be moving to [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] after his contract expired in August.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2016/04/26/skip-bayless-espn-first-take-fox-sports|title=Skip Bayless leaving ESPN, but his antics are bound to continue|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=April 26, 2016|first=Richard|last= Deitsch|access-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref> His final appearance on ''First Take'' was on June 21, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/tvradio/tom-jones-media-tidbits-on-skip-bayless-and-more/2283085/|title=Tom Jones' media tidbits on Skip Bayless and more|last=Jones|first=Tom|date=June 25, 2016|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref> ====Fox Sports 1 (2016โ2024)==== Bayless debuted ''[[Skip and Shannon: Undisputed]]'' along with [[Shannon Sharpe]] in September 2016 on [[Fox Sports 1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/skip-bayless-shannon-sharpe-show-name-undisputed-fox-sports-1/puarbi99hftq1qcehmp6u5ens|title=The name for Skip Bayless FS1 show: 'Skip and Shannon Undisputed'|last=Gentille|first=Sean|date=August 24, 2016|work=Sports News|access-date=August 26, 2016}}</ref> Bayless is known for criticizing [[LeBron James]] and [[Aaron Rodgers]] and praising [[Tom Brady]] in both ''First Take'' and ''Skip and Shannon: Undisputed''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/bransonwright/2009/03/post_217.html|title=ESPN's Skip Bayless and his constant criticism of LeBron James|website=cleveland.com|date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> He is also an outspoken defender of [[Baker Mayfield]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gullo |first=Robert |date=6 May 2022 |title="It's a collective stupidity on the part of this league" - Skip Bayless critical of teams not showing interest in Baker Mayfield |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-skip-bayless-supports-baker-mayfield |access-date=5 June 2024 |website=SportsKeeda}}</ref> Despite being a staunch Cowboys fan, Bayless has also recently been increasingly critical of Cowboys quarterback [[Dak Prescott]], head coach [[Mike McCarthy]] and owner [[Jerry Jones]]. Bayless was criticized for remarks he made on September 10, 2020, about Cowboys quarterback [[Dak Prescott]], such as saying that Prescott's statements about suffering from depression were a sign of "weakness".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/skip-bayless-under-fire-after-saying-dak-prescotts-depression-shows-weakness-1531136|title=Skip Bayless Under Fire After Saying Dak Prescott's Depression Shows 'Weakness'|author=Scott McDonald|date=September 10, 2016|work=Newsweek|access-date=September 10, 2020}}</ref> In March 2021, Bayless signed a four-year, $32 million contract with [[Fox Sports]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Pickman|url=https://www.si.com/media/2021/03/04/skip-bayless-fox-new-deal-espn-interest|title=Report: Skip Bayless Signs New $32 Million Deal With Fox Sports|publisher=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=March 4, 2021|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}</ref> On January 2, 2023, amid [[Damar Hamlin|Damar Hamlin's]] hospitalization for injuries sustained in the Week 17 game between the [[2022 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] and [[2022 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]], Bayless made a tweet that was widely described as insensitive, stating: "No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game - but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome ... which suddenly seems so irrelevant."<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=RealSkipBayless |number=1610101204687949827 |title=No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game - but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome ... which suddenly seems so irrelevant.}}</ref> The tweet was called out by several high-profile sports figures such as former quarterback [[Robert Griffin III]]<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=RGIII |number=1610113373827436544 |title=Damar Hamlin's LIFE is in the balance. Get your head out of your Ass.}}</ref> and former wide receiver [[Dez Bryant]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=DezBryant |number=1610107554582904834 |title=WE NEED TO CANCEL @RealSkipBayless ASAP!!!}}</ref> Less than an hour later, Bayless sent out an apology tweet saying "Nothing is more important than that young man's health. That was the point of my last tweet. I'm sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I prayed for him & will continue to."<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=RealSkipBayless |number=1610114342523113472 |title=Nothing is more important than that young man's health. That was the point of my last tweet. I'm sorry if that was misunderstood but his health is all that matters. Again, everything else is irrelevant. I prayed for him & will continue to.}}</ref> The day after, Shannon Sharpe did not show up for ''Undisputed'' to avoid a possible confrontation about Bayless' tweet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-04 |title=Shannon Sharpe explains Undisputed absence and Skip Bayless dispute after Damar Hamlin collapse |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/shannon-sharpe-explains-undisputed-absence-153117647.html |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> Sharpe left ''Undisputed'' in 2023 following the conclusion of the [[2023 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]], stemming from a personal attack Bayless made against Sharpe in defense of [[Tom Brady]] where Bayless implied Sharpe's criticism of Brady's play was motivated by jealousy over his longevity in the NFL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10090494-shannon-sharpe-says-skip-bayless-disrespect-caused-undisputed-exit|title=Shannon Sharpe said Skip Bayless' "disrespect" caused 'Undisputed' exit|author=Erin Walsh|date=September 22, 2023|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Bayless re-launched ''Undisputed'' in August 2023 with [[Richard Sherman (American football)|Richard Sherman]], [[Keyshawn Johnson]] and [[Michael Irvin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/sports/skip-bayless-returns-fox-introduces-new-dream-team|title=Skip Bayless returns to Fox, introduces his new 'dream team'|author=Colin Salao|date=August 28, 2023|work=The Street|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> He left ''Undisputed'' and Fox Sports 1 on August 2, 2024, after 8 years on the network.<ref name="undisputed-end" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Skip Bayless and Fox Sports Sued by Hairdresser for Sexual Harassment |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/skip-bayless-fox-sports-sexual-harassment-sexual-battery-lawsuit-noushin-faraji-1236265990/ |work=Variety |date=6 January 2025}}</ref> On January 5, 2025, Bayless was listed as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by former Fox Sports hairstylist Noushin Faraji against the network. Faraji alleges Bayless offered her $1.5 million for sex.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=A.J.|last2=McCarthy|first2=Michael|url=https://frontofficesports.com/fox-skip-bayless-others-sued-on-14-counts-sexual-battery/|title=Fox, Skip Bayless, Others Sued on 14 Counts Including Sexual Battery|work=Front Office Sports|date=January 5, 2025|accessdate=January 6, 2025}}</ref> ===Films=== Along with ESPN colleagues [[Woody Paige]] and [[Jay Crawford]], Bayless had a cameo role in the 2006 film ''[[Rocky Balboa (film)|Rocky Balboa]]''. The three are seen on their "First and 10" segment discussing a possible fight between a retired [[Rocky Balboa|Balboa]] and current heavyweight champion Mason Dixon. Bayless opines that Balboa "was completely overrated" and mocks his age. He appeared in the 2010 ESPN ''[[30 for 30]]'' film, ''Pony Excess'', about the [[Southern Methodist University football scandal]] involving gross violations of [[NCAA]] rules and regulations. Bayless covered the [[SMU Mustangs football|Mustangs]] while writing for both ''The Dallas Morning News'' and the ''Dallas Times Herald''. He also appeared in the 2011 [[ESPNU]] documentary, ''Herschel'', about [[University of Georgia]] running back [[Herschel Walker]]. ===Other honors and awards=== In 2008, Bayless was selected to the Oklahoma City Wall of Fame recognizing outstanding alumni of [[Oklahoma City Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/education-briefs/article/3281243|title=Education Briefs|work=NewsOK.com|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2009, he was inducted as one of the five members of the inaugural class of the Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2009/08/vanderbilt-student-media-hall-of-fames-inaugural-class-named-86948/|title=Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame's inaugural class named|author=Vanderbilt News and Communications|work=Vanderbilt University|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> In 2012, he received two honors: he was nominated for a [[Sports Emmy Award]] in the category of Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Analyst,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_33rd_nominees.html|title=The Emmy Awards - THE NATIONAL TELEVISION ACADEMY ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 33RD ANNUAL SPORTS EMMYยฎ AWARDS|access-date=April 26, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329200540/http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_33rd_nominees.html|archive-date=March 29, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and was the co-recipient with [[Steve Porter (producer)|DJ Steve Porter]] of a [[Webby Award|Webby]] People's Voice Award in the category of Video Remixes/Mashups for "All He Does Is Win", Porter's mashup of clips of Bayless passionately defending oft-maligned quarterback [[Tim Tebow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/search?keywords=All%20He%20Does%20Is%20Win|title=Search for Free WI-FI, Search for Missing Children|access-date=April 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125341/http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/search?keywords=All%20He%20Does%20Is%20Win|archive-date=September 3, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
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