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The 2025 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show focused on the future of sports broadcasting this year and kicked off the welcome session with ESPN host Stephen A. Smith. Promoted as a “fireside chat,” the interview was conducted by Mike McVay, president of McVay Media.
The media credits Smith with being currently one of the most influential voices in sports entertainment. On ESPN you’ll find him staring on First Take and hosting The Stephen A. Smith Show. His book Straight Shooter earned him recognition as a New York Times bestselling author.
Of course, Smith wasn’t always on top. McVay asked him about his struggles and key moments in his career. Smith gave credit to his mom for helping him at a critical moment when he had been laid off by ESPN.
Smith recalled, “I went to visit my mom the week ESPN laid me off. She made me breakfast. I sat down and there was a mirror on my plate. ‘What’s this for?’ I asked. She said, ‘I need you to look at yourself.’”
He continued, “So there I was. Forty-four years old. I looked at myself and ate some humble pie.”
Beyond Sports
McVay shifted the topic to current affairs, an area Smith recently expanded into. Smith, though not a Republican, has even recently appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show. Smith and Hannity seem to enjoy jovially yelling back and forth at one another.
McVay asked him about the current state of the nation and its politics.
Smith replied, “So as a nation we’re in a bad spot. The Democrat[ic] Party is an absolute mess. It’s disgraceful and leaderless. What they tried to do is tug on America’s heart strings and got burned by it.”
Smith also had criticisms of President Trump, suggesting the president’s activities were “haphazard.” He said, “He’s scaring America and capitalists and where is that going to lead us? He doesn’t seem to have a plan. Tariffs are not a bad thing. I just think the way he has been imposing them is disastrous.
“He is coming across as someone who is devoid of having a plan. If he has a plan, he seems to be the only one who is aware of it. He’s not thinking about the ripple and collateral effects it ultimately will have.”
President Smith?
McVay teased Smith a bit about running for president. He asked him if he would consider getting into politics.
Smith replied, “I’m leading a good life, so that’s the last thing I’d want to do. Politicians are professional beggars but I’m going to keep my options open. I am not going to rule it out. Let me hunker down. Imagine me on a debate stage with these politicians. I would eat them alive. I don’t have a political record. They do.”
The audience interrupted him with applause at that point.
Smith continued, “I’ve had the number one sports show for 13 years. I hope to do that for another five years. I have zero interest in being a politician, but I do have an interest in what’s best for the people of the United States. You don’t get to escape my voice.”
More NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters annual trade show took place April 5 to 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 55,000 attendees viewed talks, workshops and exhibits. Over a thousand exhibitors displayed cutting-edge technology for radio, TV and internet creativity and communications.
For more info about products and companies at this year’s NAB, check their social media connections: Facebook – @officialnabshow; X – @nabshow; LinkedIn – @nabshow/; Instagram – @nabshow; TikTok – @nabshowofficial; YouTube – @TheNABShow; or Threads – @nabshow.
