Skip Bayless revealed his reservations about publicly endorsing women's basketball sensation Kaitlyn Clark on his podcast Thursday.
Bayless said she was actually in awe of Clark's ability, which she said was a major reason she started watching the WNBA this year, but she initially hesitated to get on board with Clark's enthusiasm because of “guilt” and not wanting to inflame racial divisions.
“Deep down I started to think, 'Wait a minute, she's actually a nice person,' but I'll be honest with you, I felt bad saying that on TV and on social media. I didn't want to look like a white man in a red state rooting for a white woman in a red state. This country is already racially divided enough. I didn't want to add fuel to that fire,” Bayless said. On the show.
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Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields (left) is called for a flagrant foul after colliding with Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 30, 2024, in Chicago. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Bayless was a vocal opponent of Clark earlier this year, questioning Clark's potential during an FS1 broadcast in June.
“Kaitlyn, I don't know if she has that dog talent,” Bayless previously said, “I mean, she's got the talent, she's got the long-distance shooting talent, she's got the talent to pass the basketball, but I don't know if she has that dog talent, because I know it's very early on, but with what I saw on Sunday, I'm starting to wonder.”
Bayless went so far as to say that one of the reasons he took this stance toward Clark was because he believed the Iowa native was a “right-wing symbol” because he was a white, accomplished basketball player.
“Maybe I was wrong, but Caitlin Clark was starting to feel like some kind of new right-wing symbol: 'White women dominating a game that's been dominated by black men and women for years.' I could almost hear some people thinking, 'White power, baby!' And I'm not saying Caitlin Clark's politics or beliefs are far-right; I have no idea what her politics or religion are, because she's already been so damn slammed, and has carefully and wisely avoided taking a stance as a newcomer.”
“I know what a source of great pride basketball has been for the black community in this country. Black men and women have clearly, routinely and consistently excelled at basketball.”
Clark, 22, was asked about her political beliefs at a press conference on Wednesday after she “liked” a Taylor Swift Instagram post in which she endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Clark did not endorse or even mention either candidate, only that she believes people should use their platform to encourage people to vote.
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Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (No. 7) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (No. 22) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 1, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clark was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and played at Iowa before turning professional and being drafted by the Fever. Her parents, Anne and Brent, have three children, with Kaitlyn being the middle child of two siblings, Blake and Collin. Both parents are native Iowans. Former President Donald Trump won Iowa's six electoral votes in the 2020 election. However, most of the votes in Polk County, where Des Moines is located, went to Biden.
The discussion about the role race played in Clark's popularity has been thriving since her junior season at Iowa, when she led Iowa to a losing effort against Angel Reese and Louisiana State.
Those conversations escalated during Clark's first season in the WNBA, against the Chicago Sky, coincidentally Reese's team. Clark was on the receiving end of several hard fouls early in her rookie year, but it was an infamous foul by Sky player Chennedy Carter in March that sparked a fierce backlash from many of Clark's most ardent fans.
Reese herself suggested that many of Clarke's fans are racist in the first episode of her podcast last week.
“I really think the fans, her fans, Iowa fans and Indiana fans, are just really running for her. I mean, I respect that and I'm very respectful. But sometimes it can be very disrespectful. I think there's a lot of racism when it comes to that,” Reese said.
Bayless is not the first controversial sports talk show host to speak out about Clark's race, given Clark's reputation in the WNBA.
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Angel Reese (right) and Caitlin Clark watch the second half of a game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on June 23, 2024 in Chicago. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ESPN host Pat McAfee was forced to apologize on social media in June after calling Clark a “white bitch” while on air, but in that apology McAfee doubled down on his original claim that Clark's race affected how she was welcomed in the WNBA and how she was treated by opposing players.
“Is it possible that people just enjoy watching her play basketball because of how inspiring a player she is, what she's accomplished, what she believes in, how she drives herself to achieve her goals,” McAfee initially said. “Maybe. But instead we have to hear people say we like her because she's white and she's popular because other rookies are doing it. Well, that's bullshit. I think the WNBA, and especially the referees, need to stop trying to gloss over her at every turn. It's a special player we have here and we're lucky to have her in Indiana.”
Jim Trotter, a columnist for The Athletic and The New York Times, wrote a series of columns focusing on Clark's racial profile, and criticized her fans and Clark himself For not taking a stronger stance against the prejudice of some fans when asked about it.
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