With a contract extension likely to come soon for Stephen A. Smith, his ESPN co-workers have reportedly coined a dastardly new nickname for the ‘First Take’ host.
Smith is seeking a huge contract extension with ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’, but that has allegedly ruffled some feathers behind the scenes.
According to The US Sun, journalists working on the show are reportedly concerned that the attention his contract dispute is bringing will lead to adverse effects on the show.
They’ve resorted to calling Smith ‘Mr. Greed’ as they mock his desire to earn a $25million contract from the company.
‘The situation about Stephen A. Smith bringing tons of attention to his salary requests and the fact that he wants to be the most paid guy on TV and asks for 25 million per year adds a lot of tension to the team, to the journalists who aren’t on his ‘small circle, king’s court’ and on the crew, as it will literally explode the budget of the show,’ a journalist on the show told The U.S. Sun.
‘First Take’ journalists are allegedly growing concerned over Stephen A. Smith’s pursuit of a new contract with ESPN that could run up into the tens of millions of dollars
As a result, some of his co-workers have reportedly nicknamed him ‘Mr. Greed’
‘Him going to do interview and public appearances in tons of places and events so often, speaking about himself and his requests so often is seen as him campaigning for himself, the ‘Stephen A. Smith circus on tour’ as we call it now between us, as it is getting pretty ridiculous and a lot of people are very mad at him and pissed.
‘A lot of us are scared that those requests will push ESPN to cut cost in order to give him his money, and that many of us, and people from the crew will get fired, get rid of when the decision will be made.’
The Sun’s source also felt that if Smith earned a larger contract, that might eat further into the show’s budget – putting jobs at stake.
‘We aren’t talking only about Stephen A. Smith’s requests for salary, we also talk about how it will have also consequences on his close circle of guys on the show,’ the Sun’s source continued.
‘The ones that aren’t in his circle are feeling pushed away, and they are stressed out, very stressed out about the next few weeks and months.
‘Many of the people are scared to be kicked out of their job because of Mister Greedy’s enormous appetite for money and power, and to be the center of attention and exclusive decision maker on anything.’
According to The US Sun, ‘many members of First Take feel this way about Stephen A. during these tense months of his contract negotiations.’
Some believe that if Smith gets a massive contract, that their jobs could be at stake
Another source told the outlet that they believe Smith is only interested in the money.
‘I mean, every time he does an interview, or a public appearance, or even just open his mouth it’s ‘me, me, me’ and ‘money, money, money’ all the damn time,’ a member of the production team told The U.S. Sun.
‘Every single day on our group chat on WhatsApp we have always tons of quotes and stuff about Stephen A. Smith, it’s very frustrating, as this is getting out of control.
‘He is in a massive public relation campaign, to show to the world that he is the ‘best,’ the ‘top guy on TV and sports industry’ and it’s getting really pathetic to be honest with you.’
This source also told the outlet that they were concerned about speaking up against Smith in an effort to protect their jobs.
‘Many of us are fed up of this constant ‘Stephen A. Smith show,’ but we can’t say anything because we are scared that his requests will be reached and that could cost us our jobs as the money that he asks is massive, it’s insanity in my opinion,’ the source continued.
‘The negotiations are taking forever, but until a decision is made, and the new contract is signed, our situation is very unpredictable, as many of us are scared that they will have to cut cost on one side, the crew, the workers, to give him his money.
‘It’s adding a lot to an already very, very tense situation, and there is no tranquility, no serenity at out work at the moment with every thing is going on. His requests add more to it, that is for sure.’
