The sports network characterized the 20-minute morning show segment, which featured live interactive tutorials on securing a high-interest home equity loan, as standard integrated programming.
BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN management issued a statement Tuesday defending *First Take* host Stephen A. Smith after he spent the final two segments of Monday’s broadcast instructing viewers to secure high-interest home equity loans and place the resulting capital on the Los Angeles Lakers moneyline.
The network characterized the broadcast, in which Smith loudly berated co-host Shannon Sharpe for keeping his wealth tied up in a diversified mutual fund rather than a three-leg parlay involving Anthony Davis's first-half rebounds, as a routine evolution of modern sports media. According to a league source, the segment was fully cleared by standards and practices, provided Smith reminded viewers to use the promotional code provided by the network’s official sportsbook partner before signing over their deeds.
Stephen A. is passionate about the game, and part of that passion is helping our audience leverage their primary residences to engage with our integrated wagering platform.
During the segment, Smith reportedly utilized the studio’s interactive touchscreen to walk the audience through the differences between fixed and variable APRs, shouting that anyone who refuses to tap into their home's equity to back LeBron James against the Denver Nuggets is "committing generational financial malpractice." A QR code hovering over the ticker linked directly to a streamlined application for a second mortgage, pre-filled with the routing number for an ESPN Bet offshore holding account.
The Lakers dropped Monday night's contest 114-106, pushing them back to ninth in the Western Conference standings. Smith is expected to open Wednesday’s show with a discussion on whether the Dallas Mavericks' bench depth justifies liquidating a child's 529 college savings plan.