ESPN’s Skip Bayless: Kobe Bryant’s Sexual Assault Case Gave Him ‘Edge,’ ‘Sizzle’

ESPN’s Skip Bayless: Kobe’s Sexual Assault Case Gave Him ‘Edge,’ ‘Sizzle’ (Mediaite)

In today’s example of why it might not be a great idea to have two loudmouths yell about sports for hours straight on national television, First Takecohost Skip Bayless suggested Monday thatKobe Bryant‘s 2003 sexual assault trial gave him the “sizzle” necessary to land more endorsement deals.

“Remember Kobe pre-Eagle, Colorado?” Bayless asked. “He failed in his first sneaker deal because he was just too clean cut… He couldn’t sell sneakers because he didn’t have enough edge. But then post-Eagle, Colorado — it brought a little attention to him. It gave him a little bit of… sizzle.”

About two-thirds of the way through that comment you see Bayless realize he’s stepped in it. The awkward pause following confirms this.