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Skip Bayless leaving ESPN at end of August, reportedly joining Fox Sports

Skip Bayless leaving ESPN at end of August, reportedly joining Fox Sports

ESPN personality Skip Bayless is leaving the network when his contract expires at the end of August, ESPN announced Tuesday.
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ESPN personality Skip Bayless is leaving the network when his contract expires at the end of August, ESPN announced Tuesday. His last appearance on First Take will be the day after the last game of the NBA Finals.

Deadspin’s Kevin Draper reports that Bayless is joining Fox Sports. 

Bayless, 64, has worked for ESPN for 12 years and rose to prominence as the contrarian co-host of First Take with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN 2. Bayless joined the program when it launched in 2007, and Smith was added to the cast in 2012. 

Fox Sports president Jamie Horowitz oversaw First Take while at ESPN.

SI.com’s Richard Deitsch reported in November that ESPN planned to offer Bayless $4 million in annual salary when his contract expired. 

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