Stephen A. Smith: ESPN Star Turns Presidential Debate Analyst Amid Contract Drama!

1. Stephen A. Smith: The Man Who Never Stops Working

It’s a well-known fact that Stephen A. Smith is a workhorse. From appearing on First Take five times a week, to contributing to ESPN’s NBA Countdown, to publishing books and running a podcast, Smith is constantly generating content.

So it may surprise some that, after extensive coverage of the NBA draft on ESPN on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, Smith didn’t take the evening off to relax. Far from it.

Instead, Smith chose to continue his work, taking on a new role as a panelist for the presidential debate.

Yes, that’s right. After hosting First Take in the morning and covering the NBA draft in the afternoon, Smith appeared on NewsNation to offer his insights into the Biden vs. Trump debate.

Some may see Smith’s non-stop work schedule as an indication of his current contract negotiations with ESPN. According to John Ourand of Puck, ESPN has reportedly offered Smith $18 million per year for a five-year contract. However, Smith is said to be aiming for $25 million per year.

James Andrew Miller, in a recent episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina, suggested that it’s not a foregone conclusion that Smith will return to ESPN. He believes that Smith’s agents could potentially assemble various deals to secure him his desired $25 million annual paycheck.

This is where Smith’s appearances on cable news come into play. While he has been a guest on cable news for many years, his participation in a panel discussion following a presidential debate is a new level of exposure. Despite ESPN’s increased tolerance for its talent taking on external roles, it’s likely they weren’t thrilled to see Smith working on Thursday night.

As for Smith’s performance on NewsNation, the Twitterverse had plenty to say.

2. NFL Sunday Ticket Lawsuit Verdict

A few weeks ago, I wrote about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s testimony at an antitrust trial where NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers accused the league of selling the package at an inflated price and restricting access. At the time, I didn’t think the NFL stood a chance of losing. I was wrong. My colleague at SI, Andrew Brandt, has a column that explains everything about the ruling and what comes next.

3. Travis Kelce as a Referee?

Could we see Travis Kelce donning the referee’s stripes after he retires from playing? I, for one, am all for it.

4. Bill Belichick’s Love Life

I must admit, I’m somewhat fascinated by the story of 72-year-old Bill Belichick dating a 24-year-old. The story has produced some truly memorable lines, like this one:

5. The Lakers & LeBron James Draft Controversy

I have an opinion on the recent controversy surrounding the Lakers and LeBron James and their decision to draft LeBron’s son, Bronny. Maybe I’m getting softer with age, or perhaps I’m missing the point entirely, but I don’t understand why this has generated such vitriol. Is it really such a terrible thing that LeBron, one of the all-time greatest players, wants to play with his son in the NBA? I actually think it’s quite cool.

6. New Episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina

This week, I had a conversation with Pablo Torre, host of the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast for Meadowlark Media, on a new episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina. Torre shares how he came up with the idea for his unique podcast, how he selects his topics, and what it’s like to work for Dan Le Batard while still maintaining a part-time role with ESPN.

Also joining me on the podcast this week is Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY for our regular “Traina Thoughts” segment. We discuss a variety of topics including JJ Redick’s controversial use of the f-word at his Lakers’ introductory press conference, interruptions by protesters at sporting events, and Travis Kelce’s surprise appearance at a Taylor Swift concert. We wrap up the segment with a review of the podcast’s Apple reviews for June.

You can listen to the latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple and Spotify or watch it on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel.

7. Random Video of the Day

In honor of actor Gary Busey’s 79th birthday this Saturday, let’s revisit one of the greatest moments in reality television history, courtesy of Busey and Meatloaf.

Don’t forget to check out past editions of Traina Thoughts and listen to the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by me, Jimmy Traina, on Apple, Spotify, or Google. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.