A Reunion at a Beverly Hills Deli

A Jewish deli in Beverly Hills served as an unexpected backdrop for a reunion that many found intriguing.

Stephen A. Smith, a well-known figure from ESPN and Sirius XM, spotted former “First Take” co-host Skip Bayless at Nate’n Al’s Deli. This meetup was noted on social media by George “Riley” Panagakis, who shared a selfie of the trio, which included Bayless’ wife, Ernestine.

Upon posting the photo, some users were skeptical, prompting Panagakis to joke about it being AI-generated, claiming he didn’t have the skills to create such a thing.

Smith and Bayless, who used to spar daily on air, have met less frequently over the years, though their interactions have picked up lately. For instance, Smith was a guest on Bayless’ podcast back in March, marking their first public reunion since Bayless joined FS1 in 2016.

This was especially noteworthy given the controversy surrounding Bayless, who faced sexual misconduct allegations from a former FS1 hairdresser after leaving the network. That lawsuit was resolved in September.

Despite the clouds hovering over Bayless, Smith has shown support for him. Just last week, he expressed some regret, offering an on-air apology for not giving Bayless enough credit, particularly for his contributions during their shared time on “First Take.”

In a recent episode of his SiriusXM show, Smith emphasized Bayless’ influence, stating, “There are things about Skip that need to be said.” He acknowledged his lapse in giving credit where it was due and recounted the show’s history, highlighting Bayless’ commitment to diversity.

A year ago, an amicable dinner between the two would have seemed unlikely. After Bayless departed, they maintained a friendly relationship, with Bayless even advocating for a return to television together in 2020.

However, there have been tensions. Smith mentioned last December that he had stopped taking Bayless’ calls, indicating a shift in their communication. He hinted that Bayless had been the one who rarely reached out.

Despite their rocky history, it seems the original pioneers of sports talk television are finding common ground again, sharing a quieter moment away from the camera.