Skip Bayless opens up about his reservations about publicly supporting women’s basketball sensation Caitlin Clarke on an episode of his podcast on Thursday.
Bayless revealed that he was really impressed with Clark’s ability, and that it was the main thing that inspired him to start watching the WNBA this year. However, he revealed that he didn’t join in Clark’s cheering because he felt “guilty” and didn’t want to get excited about it. Racial divisions,
“I started thinking in the back of my mind, ‘Wait a second, she’s actually nice.’ But I’ll be the first to admit, I felt guilty saying that on TV or on social media. I didn’t want to look like this white guy from a red state supporting this white girl from a red state. Our country is already so racially divided. I didn’t want to pour gasoline on that fire,” said Bayless On the show,
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Diamond DeShields (left) of the Chicago Sky confronts Kaitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and is charged with a flagrant foul at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on August 30, 2024. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Bayless was a vocal critic of Clark earlier this year, and even questioned his competency during a broadcast on FS1 in June.
“Caitlin, I don’t know if she has that dog,” Bayless previously said. “I know she has talent, I know she has the talent to shoot from distance and I know she certainly has the talent to pass the basketball. But I don’t know if she has that dog because I’m starting to wonder — I know it’s very early, but all I’m saying is, I’m starting to wonder when I saw what I saw (on Sunday).”
Bayless even said that one of the reasons he took such a stance against Clark was because he believed Clark, an Iowa native, was a “right-wing icon” because she is a white athlete who excels in the game of basketball.
“Maybe I was wrong about this, but Caitlin Clark was starting to feel like a new right-wing icon in a way. ‘White woman who dominated a sport dominated by black men and women for years.’ I could almost hear some people thinking, ‘White power baby!’ And please, I am not saying that Caitlin Clark is very right-wing in her politics or beliefs. I don’t know what her politics or religion are because she has carefully, and I say cleverly, avoided taking any New Year’s stances because she is already a lightning rod.
“I know how much basketball has been a source of pride for the black community in this country. Black men and women have clearly been doing better in basketball on a regular and consistent basis.”
22-year-old Clarke was really pressured His political beliefs After liking Taylor Swift’s Instagram post during a press conference on Wednesday in which she announced her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, Clarke did not endorse or even mention any candidates, but simply said she believes in using her platform to encourage people to vote.
Caitlin Clark loved Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris for president
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, #7, guards Indiana Fever guard Kaitlin Clark, #22, on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clark was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and played in Iowa before turning professional and being drafted by the Fever. Her parents, Anne and Brent, have three children, as Kaitlyn is the middle child of her two brothers, Blake and Collin. Her parents are lifelong Iowa natives. Former President Donald Trump won six electoral votes in Iowa in the 2020 election. However, most of the votes in Polk County, where Des Moines is located, went to Biden.
Discussion of Clarke’s race’s role in her popularity has been going on since the end of her junior season at Iowa, when she led the Hawkeyes to the national championship game against Angel Reese and LSU but lost.
These discussions escalated in her first WNBA season, coincidentally against Reese’s team, the Chicago Sky. Clark endured several hard fouls from opponents early in her rookie year, but an infamous foul by the Sky’s Chennedy Carter in March sparked a fierce reaction from many of Clark’s loyal fans.
Reese herself said that many of Clarke’s fans are racist In the first episode His podcast was discussed last week.
“I think it’s really just the fans, his fans, Iowa fans, now Indiana fans, that really ride for him, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to that,” Reese said.
Bayless isn’t the first major controversial sports talk show host to talk about Clark’s race in reference to her reputation in the WNBA.
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Angel Reese (right) and Caitlin Clark watch during the second half against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on June 23, 2024. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ESPN host Pat McAfee was forced to apologize on social media after calling Clark a “white b—-” during a live television broadcast in June. However, in the apology, McAfee reiterated his original argument that Clark’s race contributed to her reception by the WNBA and the treatment of opposing players.
McPhee basically said, “Is there any chance that people will enjoy watching her play basketball because of how great she is, what she did, what she stood for, how she stood up for what she did?” “Probably. But instead, we have to listen to people say that we only like her because she’s white, and that she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing. Well, that’s bullshit s— and we think the WNBA – and more specifically their referees – should stop trying to harass her at every single turn. You have someone special, and we’re lucky she’s in Indiana.”
The Athletic and New York Times columnist Jim Trotter wrote a series of columns focusing on the race aspect of Clark, drawing criticism from both his fans and critics. Clark himself He has been accused of not taking a strong stand against the prejudices of some of his fans when asked about them.
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