One of the most bombastic, controversial, and at times ubiquitous personalities in the 30+ year history of ESPN is returning to the network as a radio host and online columnist.
Former ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is returning to the network as a local ESPN Radio host and ESPN.com columnist, the network announced Tuesday.
In his new roles for the network, Smith will write columns for ESPN.com, in particular ESPNNY.com and ESPNLA.com, and host local radio shows for the New York and Los Angeles markets.
Smith previously worked for ESPN from 2003-08, primarily as an NBA analyst and reporter. His polarizing style is part of what got him hired — just ask former ESPN executive Mark Shapiro. When Shapiro recommended the network go after Smith in a 2003 production meeting, “there were 28 people in the room, and they were all vehement: ‘No way, never, never!’ I said, ?We?ve gotta get this guy in here” (Sports Business Daily, 8/1/2005).
Smith’s initial ESPN tenure came during a period when complaints over ESPN’s perceived ‘style over substance’ approach were arguably at their most legitimate. That was the era of reality shows, scripted melodramas, Rush Limbaugh on Sunday NFL Countdown and Sean Salisbury screaming at John Clayton.
Smith thrived in that atmosphere. He was a frequent guest on SportsCenter, a regular commentator on NBA Shootaround, even a guest host on Pardon the Interruption. The high point of his ESPN tenure was Quite Frankly, a one-hour talk show he briefly hosted for ESPN2.
The early-2000s mindset of ‘the more divisive, the better’ still remains in some quantities on ESPN (Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd, for example). However, today’s ESPN is a bit more reserved by comparison, making Smith’s re-hiring a strange, almost backwards move.
While there was no indication in ESPN’s press release that Smith would contribute to ESPN television, it’s difficult to imagine Smith not making any appearances on ESPN TV platforms during his return engagement with the network.
