Skip Bayless gets shockingly honest about Caitlin Clark

Skip Bayless knew he was watching greatness from Caitlin Clark, but he hesitated to say so on FS1 because of her race.

Now that Bayless is untethered from a mainstream media company, he promised to be unfiltered on his podcast . And on the latest episode of his podcast, Bayless referenced being raised by a Black woman, Katie Bell Henderson, a person he has discussed previously . Because of his upbringing, Bayless claims it gave him a unique appreciation for Black America. According to Bayless, that upbringing also played a role in his media career.

“As I began my TV career,” Bayless said. “I found I definitely was more comfortable interacting with Black commentators because they were just more my style. I had more fun with them. I fed off them.”

And in the last year and few months of his TV career, Bayless says being raised by a Black woman also influenced his reluctance to celebrate Caitlin Clark’s dominance and popularity in the WNBA.

“So here came this white girl from Iowa. And I started watching the WNBA much more closely than I ever have,” Bayless admitted. “And I started to think, deep down in my psyche, ‘Wait a second, she’s really good.’ But I’ll be the first to admit, I felt guilty saying so on TV or on social media. I did not want to look like this red state white guy cheering for this red state white girl. Our country feels split enough racially already. I didn’t want to pour gasoline on that fire.

“Maybe I was wrong about this, but Caitlin Clark started to feel like some sort of new right-wing symbol. ‘White woman dominating game dominated by Black men and women for years and years.’ I could almost hear some people thinking, ‘White power baby!’ And please, I’m not saying Caitlin Clark is far-right in her politics or beliefs. I have no idea what her politics or religion are because she has carefully, and I say smartly, avoided taking any rookie year stance because she is already such a lightning rod. But obviously, I know what a powerful point of pride basketball has been to the Black community in this country, Black men and women obviously have been routinely and consistently better at basketball.”

Bayless wasn’t excessively critical of Clark as she morphed into a national icon during his final months on Undisputed , but he apparently tempered his praise. And while it’s unfair to label Clark a “right-wing symbol,” her name has undoubtedly been weaponized. Clark attracted a new, largely white, fanbase to women’s basketball. And many of those new fans have attempted to drag Clark into a culture war by questioning the motives of her Black opponents. But there is certainly still a way for fans and media members to praise Clark’s indisputable greatness on the court without engaging in a political conversation.

[ The Skip Bayless Show ]

The post Skip Bayless ‘felt guilty’ praising Caitlin Clark: ‘Didn’t want to look like this red state white guy’ appeared first on Awful Announcing .