Reassigned as Reporter, Columnist to Host on ESPN
Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist who is challenging his reassignment as a general assignment sports reporter, has been signed to host a national afternoon radio show on ESPN, the sports network announced.
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“Smith, who previously hosted 1050 ESPN Radio’s ‘Stephen A. Smith Show’ noon-2 p.m. weekdays, will now host New York’s 2-4 p.m. slot, with the final hour going national on ESPN Radio. Smith is an ESPN NBA analyst, appearing on many of its platforms, as well as a regular Sunday morning SportsCenter contributor,” read an announcement Monday from ESPN.
“I’m elated for this tremendous opportunity and I appreciate the faith ESPN has shown in me,” Smith said in the release. “New York listeners and NBA fans have gotten a taste of my no-holds-barred mentality, and now the rest of the country is about to find out as well.” The announcement said Smith would continue to be joined by Mike Missanelli, a former Inquirer sportswriter.
As reported last month, Inquirer Editor William K. Marimow told readers on Aug. 22, “Stephen A. Smith is an excellent reporter. He’s got a huge reservoir of sources in the sports world, and we want him to return to reporting.”
However, the Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia filed a formal protest with the company on Smith’s behalf. “This is the first step in the process. We first have to see if we can resolve the issue informally, which is often possible. If not, we have to develop an understanding of why management is taking the action and develop a response based on what the contract provides,” Guild president Henry Holcomb said then.
On Monday, Dan Gross reported in the Philadelphia Daily News that Smith was due to return to work at the newspaper Friday but had extended his leave.
The ESPN release began by announcing that sportscaster Mike Tirico, “the ‘Monday Night Football’ commentator who has hosted or served as play-by-play voice for many of ABC and ESPN’s marquee events, will host ESPN Radio’s weekday 1-3 p.m.,” stepping into part of Dan Patrick’s old sports talk time slot. Patrick left ESPN on Aug. 17 after 18 years.
Traug Keller, senior vice president, production, business divisions, said in the release: “Having a daily radio show hosted by Mike Tirico will cement our position as the sports listen of record in mid-day talk radio. And, Stephen A. Smith’s strong voice will be a welcome addition for our national radio audience.”
ESPN Radio, claiming nearly 350 full-time affiliates, is the nation’s largest radio sports network.
- Al Daulerio, Philadelphia magazine blog: Stephen A. and the Inky: Lawyering It Up?
