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Stephen A. Smith Reportedly Courting Magic Johnson To Be His Co-Host On “First Take”

According to a report, Stephen A. Smith is going after Magic Johnson hard to be Max Kellerman's replacement as his co-host on "First Take"

14 June 2012: American sports reporter for ESPN Stephen A. Smith is seen prior to Game 2 - Heat at Thunder - of the 2012 NBA Finals, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Would Magic Johnson take on a role with Stephen A. Smith on “First Take”?

It was widely reported this week that ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had everything to do with the network’s decision to remove Max Kellerman as Smith’s co-host on the popular show “First Take”.

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And if Stephen A. Smith was able to pull strings to get Max Kellerman removed, who’s to say he doesn’t have the leverage to pick Kellerman’s replacement?

Well apparently, Smith has a dream candidate in mind to sit alongside him on the show…Magic Johnson.

“These days, what Stephen A. Smith wants at ESPN, Stephen A. gets. Next up, Magic Johnson,” Andrew Marchand wrote on NYPost.com. “Smith wants to team up with Johnson, possibly on “NBA Countdown,” the pregame show that leads into the NBA Finals and other marquee games, according to sources.”

If Magic Johnson doesn’t work out, Stephen A. Smith also has his eyes on Michael Wilbon, who he has formed a close bond with during their respective tenures at ESPN.

Maybe ESPN will just say the hell with it and try to form an All-Star squad of Magic Johnson, Michael Wilbon, and Stephen A. Smith to run “First Take”.

No offense to Max Kellerman, but I think that would be a hell of a lot more interesting.


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