Skip Bayless is joining Gilbert Arenas for a new football show, Bayless told The Athletic.
“I’m not exaggerating to you,” Bayless said over the phone. “I’m telling you, the God’s truth, I’m more on fire for this than I have ever been.”
The show will be produced and owned by Underdog, who host Arenas’ current basketball program, Gil’s Arena, that has gained popularity in the digital world. “The Arena: Gridiron” will feature Bayless, former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib and former NFL coach Jay Gruden.
Arenas will also appear on the football program, while Gerald McCoy and Cody Kessler will be guests. Social media influencer Kinsey Wolanski will serve as the host on the show, which begins next Tuesday and will air three times per week.
“I’m back in the saddle in the debate arena,” Bayless said. “I live for this. I love this. And I’m not one who curses, but they actually worked me into such a frenzy in the rehearsals that I came close to uttering my first F-bomb.”
Bayless, 73, has had a long career of hot takes with ESPN’s “First Take” and FS1’s “Undisputed.” He left FS1 a year ago.
Bayless was named in a lawsuit by a former FS1 hairstylist, who alleged that Bayless offered her money for sex. The stylist, Noushin Faraji — who made the allegations against Fox Sports, a former executive and other on-air personalities — has asked a Los Angeles court to dismiss the case.
On July 30, Arenas was charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $50,000 bond.
“They have no concerns,” Bayless said. “I’ve talked to Gil. He has no concerns. I mean, he’s obviously concerned, but he believes he did nothing at all wrong, except rent out his space, and I believe in him.”
Talib had a rise in sports media a few years ago, as he drew some acclaim as an NFL game analyst for Fox Sports. His run in the booth ended pretty quickly. He was present when his brother, Yaqub, murdered a youth football coach. His brother pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 37 years, and Talib took a hiatus from broadcasting.
As part of the new show, Arenas’ channel will rebrand as “The Arena presented by Underdog.” Underdog was founded just five years ago as a gaming and media company, and Arenas has become one of the biggest digital basketball programs.
“I had the privilege of working with Stephen A. Smith over a 14-year span,” Bayless said. “I had the privilege of working with Shannon Sharpe for seven years. I’ve spent the last year looking for a new partner who would excite me or inspire me or be able to challenge me, and I found that partner in Gilbert Arenas. He’s a powerhouse on social media and in the digital space. He’s even bigger than he was as a three-time NBA All-Star. He has turned that Gilbert Arena show into a runaway hit.
“We sparred back and forth on social media about LeBron for a while. Then we met, got to know each other, and he wants, so to speak, to take his talents into the NFL space, which he should because he’s got rare charisma and showmanship and a rare sports brain. He’s deeply smart about sports. And I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
(Photo: Allen Kee / Getty Images)