- Aug 30, 2012
- 18,958
- 9,403
Wild how he doesn’t call it his employer for hiring and spending millions on a Pat Macfee (sp) and more saying it’s the nature of the business. Ya can tell something went bad with him and Max.
Wild how he doesn’t call it his employer for hiring and spending millions on a Pat Macfee (sp) and more saying it’s the nature of the business. Ya can tell something went bad with him and Max.
aepps20
Supporter
- Feb 8, 2004
- 42,850
- 91,322
He knows that the salaries for top talent including his own are the problem. The obvious split is for him and others to take a pay cut but he won’t do that and I don’t blame him
- Jan 20, 2002
- 54,444
- 32,044
SAS never got into detail about Max, but just reiterated the fact that he did not want to work with Max whenever he was asked. did not feel like it was a great fit on his end. i think it may also have to do with SAS wanting to have more control and bring on different people that he wanted to debate with.
don't think we really heard Max's side of the story.
did Jalen stop doing first take when SAS got more creative control or when he split with molly?
don't think we really heard Max's side of the story.
did Jalen stop doing first take when SAS got more creative control or when he split with molly?
- Aug 20, 2001
- 29,035
- 64,023
I can’t entirely confirm but SAS covers all sports so that gives him an edge over some of the folks let go (ie a generalist vs a specialist), he is a big draw for them form a viewership/casual perspective but they got this man flying all over the country, attending every big event from sunrise until midnight. So he gets paid the most on the roster but he definitely earns it from an hours/work out in perspective IMO.
I heard him speak about both the Skip and Max departures on It Is What It Is. Regarding the latter, his stance was that he felt both the show and to a degree his career had peaked with him and Max so he wanted to go a different direction. However, what seems to get lost in the story is that everyone says “SAS kicked Max off the show!” which apparently isn’t the case. According to SAS he told the higher ups about his concerns of the stall and even offered to leave to be put on something else but he just felt that the duo/situation as maxed out (no pun intended) and I guess the solution was to move Max to his own show at 2PM (This Just In).
Another thing he spoke on that doesn’t get talked about much in SAS discourse that throughout his career and while on First Take he got a lot of folks put on through their recurring roles on his shows and with his juice. So when you think about it by going to his new format, he is actually putting more folks on by giving them exposure that they would not have otherwise.
At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s fair to place any blame on SAS or Mcafee (not saying anyone in here has) for the recent ESPN Red Wedding. The remaining high paid employees (or any of them for that matter) shouldn’t be looked at to blame when the higher ups call for a reduction in force. The problem started with the decisions at the top, not the decisions of those who got let or survived.
aepps20
Supporter
- Feb 8, 2004
- 42,850
- 91,322
Simply put, Disney is not doing as well as they once were (during the peak of Avengers) and when you factor in cutting the cord none of this is surprising.
- Aug 30, 2012
- 18,958
- 9,403
jpzx
Supporter
- Feb 7, 2008
- 59,484
- 28,565
He just wants to float the idea to other members of the media that he’s human, no one’s buying it.
AIR J XIII
Supporter
- Nov 11, 2002
- 6,840
- 13,868
SAS should’ve left ESPN eons ago.
They need him, he doesn’t need them.
They need him, he doesn’t need them.
jpzx
Supporter
- Feb 7, 2008
- 59,484
- 28,565
He makes the most money at the network, I think he needs them and they need him. TNT is the closest alternative, he has to go somewhere that has NBA rights. But they don’t have the Finals or all-day coverage.
- Jan 20, 2002
- 54,444
- 32,044
he tried doing some stuff with cnn and fox news as a guest years back when he first left.
his brand is much bigger now, especially, with his big contract and increased work load.
he mentioned that he wants a late night tv gig in the future and branch out of just doing sports.
not sure he gets the same exposure without espn.
- Aug 20, 2001
- 29,035
- 64,023
All of this. Being at a big network AND having the executive producer juice >>>>>>> .
- Aug 30, 2012
- 18,958
- 9,403
He doesn’t make the most money on the network.
ESPN literally threw a giant bag at Patrick McAfee. SAS even discussed it on that funky podcast of his along with the Shannon Fox departure. Content is king. Club Shayshay has more than one million subscribers, which is why he could get out of that Fox contract early without fear. And Big Pat left a lucrative deal with fan duel, WWE, College Gameday, etc so his content can be exclusive.
The bottom line is the bottom line at ESPN. If they’re a NBA team, they’re just trying to not operate in the second apron unless it’s going to win a title. So bye bye Max, Jalen, Keyshawn, etc.
- Mar 14, 2010
- 29,879
- 42,295
I feel like they should’ve kept Jalen. Other than that, everything made sense.
Can’t believe Susie Kolber got let go. She’s a part of my childhood
Can’t believe Susie Kolber got let go. She’s a part of my childhood
- Mar 30, 2007
- 151,684
- 203,233
I feel like espn is experiencing the ramifications of their own actions (poor decisions)
like it was easy to see how bad keyshawn was when he was with the rest of the nfl live crew
and while I might not be a fan of SAS, I get his value.. but with a lot of the folks I just don’t see it
also how the nba stuff is structured.. hell how the nfl stuff is structured
you see how good the nfl live crew is, would make sense to make them the kickoff show for monday night football and I guess throw in randy
but only jalen and the guy from college game day I don’t get
- Feb 11, 2008
- 19,861
- 13,077
@ thinking Stephen A doesn't need ESPN. Where could he make the same money while still being so one dimensional?Using that logic McAfee needs them less.
ESPN is basically the super team era. Buy talent/shows instead of developing them. Filling out the roster with new guys who will take less money than the vets.
Even with Club Shay Shay which was apart of FS1 before he left....Shannon would still be at Fox if they offered more money...even with Skip being Skip.
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- Feb 11, 2008
- 19,861
- 13,077
He said he's trying to get like McAfee, Rogan, Simmons etc
- Mar 14, 2010
- 29,879
- 42,295
Stephen A is 70% the reason I watch ESPN. Other than actual live sports. I like Perk, Richard Jefferson, Swagu, Foxworth sometimes, Ryan Clark, etc
- Aug 20, 2001
- 29,035
- 64,023
SAS makes less than Joe Buck ($15MM) and Troy Aikman ($15MM) for ESPN but they have different roles/functions. He’s still right there at $12MM and makes the most in his second most space behind McAfee.
One of the big things Mcafee mentioned when leaving was that yeah he’s making less but on the flip side now he has ESPN to handle production and business matters. It seems inconsequential but he just had a kid and he’s still fairly young so getting that time and energy back is pretty valuable.
We will see what happens to ESPN’s numbers but I know I’m not going to change any of my sports consumption habits because of it. I’ve still had ESPN radio on the past few days while working out even though it’s not their former #1 morning show show Keyshawn, JWill and Max and has been Amber Wilson
smokin) and whoever else they get . This will likely get the ESPN financials to where they want to be but layoffs during sustained operations are generally just a short term solution IMO but I don’t work in entertainment so my view might not apply.
One of the big things Mcafee mentioned when leaving was that yeah he’s making less but on the flip side now he has ESPN to handle production and business matters. It seems inconsequential but he just had a kid and he’s still fairly young so getting that time and energy back is pretty valuable.
We will see what happens to ESPN’s numbers but I know I’m not going to change any of my sports consumption habits because of it. I’ve still had ESPN radio on the past few days while working out even though it’s not their former #1 morning show show Keyshawn, JWill and Max and has been Amber Wilson
smokin) and whoever else they get . This will likely get the ESPN financials to where they want to be but layoffs during sustained operations are generally just a short term solution IMO but I don’t work in entertainment so my view might not apply.
- Jun 14, 2022
- 3,337
- 7,535
Skip hasn't started Undisputed back up because he is salivating at the prospect of Stephen A being let go by Disney/ESPN.
- Jan 2, 2010
- 83,325
- 119,495
I was watching something where they talked about how a few years ago ESPN 150 million cable subscribers, now they got 70 mil and it keeps dropping. I really don't know anybody that watches live ESPN outside of actual games. People watch first take, get up and whatever shows through YouTube or the ESPN podcenter.
- Jan 20, 2002
- 54,444
- 32,044
^this. i was going to mention how pat now has full support and access from espn as well.
if i recall, he had to build out his own studio and invest in production out of his own pocket when he was running his show.
now he can just focus on being an on-air talent
i wonder if they will force him to talk more basketball during the season. his main guy was shams, but i assume he would have woj or some other espn insider now.
if i recall, he had to build out his own studio and invest in production out of his own pocket when he was running his show.
now he can just focus on being an on-air talent
i wonder if they will force him to talk more basketball during the season. his main guy was shams, but i assume he would have woj or some other espn insider now.
- Oct 13, 2001
- 161,938
- 144,418
- Mar 30, 2007
- 151,684
- 203,233
Only things espn I listen to watch outside of sports is bomani‘s pod religiously, Dominique’s pod religiously and most of Mina’s pods
and then nfl live every once and a while
o and debatable pod regularly
and then nfl live every once and a while
o and debatable pod regularly
TipsyMcStagga
formerly kod843
- Aug 1, 2011
- 12,579
- 15,268
SAS just said recently that even though he has love for Skip, he'd never work with him again.
- Jan 2, 2010
- 83,325
- 119,495
I said this in the NBA thread it's crazy how he had a great back in 05 but they got rid of it and him. ESPN wasn't really messing with the culture like that until the last 2-3 years for real. Stephen A was a lil more raw back then (pause).
