Blog Prompt #2
I felt I should take this in a direction most relevant to my career, and focus on those seen as public intellectuals in the sports world and those who are seen as major contributors to the public sphere or sports commentary and analysis.
While this is not a list of my favorite people in the public sphere of sports, I am attempting to be unbiased and list those who I feel garner the strongest reactions and the most coverage.
1. Stephen A. Smith
Now, I'm not listing Stephen A. because I agree with his opinions a lot of the time. He's extremely loud and boisterous, rubs many people the wrong way and has gotten into high-profile feuds with athletes, particularly Kevin Durant. However, to be fair ESPN is "the worldwide leader in sports" and Stephen A. is their most visible figure. He is highly connected in the sports world, and whenever any relevant event happens, he is always a leading voice. Stephen A. has appeared on Fox and CNN multiple times, as when major news networks need to communicate with someone from the sports world, he is usually the one they turn to.
2. Charles Barkley
While on the surface, listing someone like Sir Charles who embraces playing the jokester and buffoon as a "public intellectual" may seem like a stretch, if you've followed his career as a member of the media and read his books, he always has strong and well thought-out opinions on things. When it comes to any major event in the sports sphere, his voice is one of the most heard and significant. Barkley also has no time for political correctness, not afraid to voice unpopular opinions when required. What also sets him apart is that he has refused to embrace social media, as he does not have a Twitter account, yet is still so highly influential. Perhaps this is part of the reason why when he speaks, people listen.
3. Skip Bayless
While Bayless is another one I disagree with a lot of the time, I have to be fair and admit he is one of the leading voices in the public sphere of sports. He has mastered the art of playing the "troll" and people tune into what he has to say. Bayless' commentary also garners strong reactions, so much so that he recently switched from ESPN to FS1, on a contract awarding him $26 million over four years. He knows how to push people's buttons and evoke emotional reactions out of viewers. Whether you love him or hate him, Skip's "hot takes" are one of the first to be heard when anything major happens in sports.
While this is not a list of my favorite people in the public sphere of sports, I am attempting to be unbiased and list those who I feel garner the strongest reactions and the most coverage.
1. Stephen A. Smith
Now, I'm not listing Stephen A. because I agree with his opinions a lot of the time. He's extremely loud and boisterous, rubs many people the wrong way and has gotten into high-profile feuds with athletes, particularly Kevin Durant. However, to be fair ESPN is "the worldwide leader in sports" and Stephen A. is their most visible figure. He is highly connected in the sports world, and whenever any relevant event happens, he is always a leading voice. Stephen A. has appeared on Fox and CNN multiple times, as when major news networks need to communicate with someone from the sports world, he is usually the one they turn to.
2. Charles Barkley
While on the surface, listing someone like Sir Charles who embraces playing the jokester and buffoon as a "public intellectual" may seem like a stretch, if you've followed his career as a member of the media and read his books, he always has strong and well thought-out opinions on things. When it comes to any major event in the sports sphere, his voice is one of the most heard and significant. Barkley also has no time for political correctness, not afraid to voice unpopular opinions when required. What also sets him apart is that he has refused to embrace social media, as he does not have a Twitter account, yet is still so highly influential. Perhaps this is part of the reason why when he speaks, people listen.
3. Skip Bayless
While Bayless is another one I disagree with a lot of the time, I have to be fair and admit he is one of the leading voices in the public sphere of sports. He has mastered the art of playing the "troll" and people tune into what he has to say. Bayless' commentary also garners strong reactions, so much so that he recently switched from ESPN to FS1, on a contract awarding him $26 million over four years. He knows how to push people's buttons and evoke emotional reactions out of viewers. Whether you love him or hate him, Skip's "hot takes" are one of the first to be heard when anything major happens in sports.
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