Stephen A. Smith’s U.S. Presidential aspirations may have been reignited by Donald Trump contemptuously dismissing him as an “arrogant fool.”
Smith should raise the ante by challenging the President to a mano-a-mano debate on First Take.
Imagine the TV ratings possibilities if Smith and President Trump were to embrace debate on ESPN’s top-rated morning show. Smith’s May reunion with former sparring partner Skip Bayless averaged a whopping 647,000 viewers, up 44% from the corresponding episode the year before. Having Smith and Trump go at it could push First Take over the 1-million-viewer mark. First Take averaged 564,000 viewers in May, up 18%.
I talked to some sources about a potential Smith vs. Trump showdown on First Take. They thought it unlikely because their debate would inevitably veer away from sports and into the third rail political/social topics that ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro wants to avoid.
On the other hand, Smith and Trump love to debate and argue and neither backs down from a challenge. As executive producer, Smith has the pull to make it happen. Here’s why a Smith vs. Trump debate on First Take makes business sense for Smith and ESPN:
