Take heart, dear reader.
Our long, national nightmare that began in mid-July:
… is finally over.
But like The Undertaker himself, Skip is back from the dead once more.
And he’s setting the record straight about a few things.
First, FS1 didn’t break up with him, he broke up with them.
The NFL season is about to start, along with my new life, Bayless said.
I have waited a long time for this moment.
I am finally free.
Free to unleash in ways I never have.
Free to give you every bit of me without boundaries or handcuffs or fear of suspension.
I recently left FS1, an exit I had planned for several months because I wanted to do this.
I wanted to be my own boss.
To bet on myself.
To break free from the TV networks Ive worked for for 35 years.
For 35 years, Ive been told, Dont!
Ive tiptoed, sidestepped, pulled punches…No more bosses with huge egos and hidden agendas.
No more games that have to be played behind closed data pipe doors.
Now Im free to be one thousand percent me.
But wait, theres more.
Do you mean to tell me that what we’ve been seeing all this time is Skip Baylessholding back?
Being mindful of his thoughts?
I mean, strap yourself in.
We are in for a wild ride even the most devoted Bayless Bro might not be able to handle!
Far be it for me to question Skip’s veracity here.
Though he is predisposed toward making himself the hero of every story he tells.
So it’s fair to question whether he was the Dumpee in his split with FS1 or the Dumper.
Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how this works out for him.
The media landscape is changing all the time.
In fact, the rate of change seems to be getting faster by the week.
Cable and satellite are flatlining and about to be read their last rites.
Personally, I have my doubts Skip is cut out for that world.
Like I said in July:
It’s OK not to be the Leading Man bang out.
What the Zoomer kids refer to as Main Character Syndrome.
Some of the best character actors ever were born only for supporting roles.
And that’s Skip.
There’s no shame in it.
But Skip has always been a very specific throw in of supporting player.
He’s always fit in on TV as the Wacky Neighbor Who’s Also an Irritant.
Because their whole identity is based on one thing.
And that is getting an exasperated reaction out of the protagonist so hilarity can ensue.
Think Urkel Or Al Bundy’s neighbor Marcy.
Or perhaps the best example ever, Kramer.
No one ever wanted to watch 30 minutes of Cosmo Kramer going around bothering everybody with his insane antics.
The same with Skip Bayless.
Just a garden variety imbecile saying unhinged, nonsensical stuff.
It’s why this worked so well:
But who can say until he tries it?
Maybe Bayless has been holding back all this time.
Especially late in life.
When that happens, we all win.
