NBA Analyst Jalen Rose Brings Integrity Back to ESPN Set

First Take is designed for Skip Bayless to publicly muck up the reputations of other players. He drags them through the mud and is encouraged to do so because it brings in the ratings, and ratings is money for ESPN.

It's gotten worse as First Take has become more popular, but ESPN basically pays Jay Crawford to sit behind that desk and pound Skip's chest for him. He comes to his defense whenever a viable athlete or other guest sits across from Skip and comes up with a good point. 

Jay is there to make sure Skip doesn't get his ego hurt. Fortunately for us (the viewer), nobody saw Jalen Rose coming.

Jalen (while being 100% accurate, mind you) DESTROYED Skip Bayless and has numerous times in these types of debates. Rose is one of the best analysts out there. He can articulate his opinion in an intelligent fashion and rarely resorts to petty Skipisms (dragging a person's reputation through the mud).

In this particular instance, Jalen gave Skip a dose of his own medicine and it left everyone shocked. They had no idea what to do, and for once.... Skip Bayless was left speechless.

How dare someone get the better of Skip Bayless. Not only was Skip bested, but his hired thug, Jay Crawford, was left without air to mutter words of encouragement in the defense of Bayless. 

How do First Take and ESPN respond?

Instead of continuing it right there and not dragging it out through the week, they postpone the discussion for another day.

This extra day allows Skip to gather his thoughts and actually form some kind of response. It also gives time for  Jay Crawford to practice some pre-written drivel defending Skip and talking about how credible and amazing he is.

In this extra day, they were also able to set up a video call from Stephen A. who looks and sounds like he was paid to pump up Skip and publicly chastise and degrade Jalen Rose. A video call, mind you, that was completely out of the blue and far from warranted or necessary.

ESPN and First Take set up a witch hunt and did what they do best... degrade, insult, and question the motivations of the person sitting opposite Skip Bayless.