Jemele Hill

And because he understands that performance element and because he does it so well in a way that is very unique to him and in a way no one else in the industry can actually do it, that it is able to evoke reaction. You know, we live in an attention economy, Dan, as you know, and he's able to create a tornado of attention with everything that he says. And for a media company,

Like ESPN, this is extremely valuable. It's why he got the big contract. You know, his roots are in journalism. And for a long time, he was a very good and one of the best, if not the best, NBA reporter that was out there. But I think he's tapped into something that is easily monetized. So when it's not just...

Like ESPN, this is extremely valuable. It's why he got the big contract. You know, his roots are in journalism. And for a long time, he was a very good and one of the best, if not the best, NBA reporter that was out there. But I think he's tapped into something that is easily monetized. So when it's not just...

you know, this reporter saying something as Stephen A. Smith, the weight of his name is bringing something extra to any discussion that he is in. I just find it really more fascinating, the political turn that he's making while still being at ESPN and still representing ESPN because as you know, that is not something that is naturally embraced by this company.

you know, this reporter saying something as Stephen A. Smith, the weight of his name is bringing something extra to any discussion that he is in. I just find it really more fascinating, the political turn that he's making while still being at ESPN and still representing ESPN because as you know, that is not something that is naturally embraced by this company.

And so I think seeing his turn, his dramatic turn into politics is really quite stunning given the breadth of his career.

And so I think seeing his turn, his dramatic turn into politics is really quite stunning given the breadth of his career.

So that's the part that I do find to be interesting, is that he is embraced in a way in conservative circles that you don't often see by people in his position. Now, some of that is just based off some of the opinions that he shared about you know, things that he said about the Democratic Party and being very critical of them, which naturally will get you embraced by conservative circles.

So that's the part that I do find to be interesting, is that he is embraced in a way in conservative circles that you don't often see by people in his position. Now, some of that is just based off some of the opinions that he shared about you know, things that he said about the Democratic Party and being very critical of them, which naturally will get you embraced by conservative circles.

But very few people can vacillate between two wildly different networks. ESPN is not a political network at all. Fox is the most conservative network Or maybe they're not the most conservative because you do have Newsmax and you also have OWN. But, you know, they're at the top of the food chain, certainly when it comes to conservative networks.

But very few people can vacillate between two wildly different networks. ESPN is not a political network at all. Fox is the most conservative network Or maybe they're not the most conservative because you do have Newsmax and you also have OWN. But, you know, they're at the top of the food chain, certainly when it comes to conservative networks.

It's the value pinging that is very interesting to me to see him going back and forth between these two circles. And at least from, I think I read this some time ago, like he's doing some kind of live event with like Chris Cuomo and this guy. So I just wonder where all of this is going. And so it'll be fascinating to see the arc of his career.

It's the value pinging that is very interesting to me to see him going back and forth between these two circles. And at least from, I think I read this some time ago, like he's doing some kind of live event with like Chris Cuomo and this guy. So I just wonder where all of this is going. And so it'll be fascinating to see the arc of his career.

I think, and this is just based off things that he said publicly, I mean, I think his ultimate goal is to be the number one media mogul in all of television. And as a personality, while, you know, maintaining, obviously working on some projects that give him ownership over things, of course. But I think his goal is just kind of media world domination. So we're seeing this unfold in real time.

I think, and this is just based off things that he said publicly, I mean, I think his ultimate goal is to be the number one media mogul in all of television. And as a personality, while, you know, maintaining, obviously working on some projects that give him ownership over things, of course. But I think his goal is just kind of media world domination. So we're seeing this unfold in real time.

And it's really quite a masterclass into how if you can drill into the performance part of this, what lay ahead for you. I mean, because the thing with me is that while certainly I'm comfortable on TV, comfortable in formats like this and virtually any format. At some point, like I can't perform like this is what you get and this is all there is.

And it's really quite a masterclass into how if you can drill into the performance part of this, what lay ahead for you. I mean, because the thing with me is that while certainly I'm comfortable on TV, comfortable in formats like this and virtually any format. At some point, like I can't perform like this is what you get and this is all there is.

So I can't every day sort of create this level of enthusiasm and fight and all these other things to sort of sell the natural opinion that I have. Like, that's just not a talent that I have. And he has that talent.

So I can't every day sort of create this level of enthusiasm and fight and all these other things to sort of sell the natural opinion that I have. Like, that's just not a talent that I have. And he has that talent.

to such a incredible degree that I guess the downside of it is that I feel I worry that for younger journalists that this is becoming sort of like a Steph Curry effect in the sense that Steph Curry started, you know, shooting these logo threes and shooting these completely ridiculous and banana shots.