We take you to the set of First Take live in Bristol, Connecticut:
Cari Champion: Despite American Pharoah’s victory on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, there are some questioning whether he just came along at the right time in horse racing history or whether this horse is really historically great. So naturally, it begs the question: Is the Triple Crown winner elite? Skip, we’ll start with you. Because, even though this is a five-minute segment, you will start it off and take four and a half minutes of this segment.
Skip Bayless: My good friend Stephen A., let me first say, NO, THIS HORSE IS NOT ELITE! Let me first say, I have zero problem that the horse led wire to wire. Let me first say, even though this is my third comment, let me first say, AMERICAN PHAROAH IS NO SECRETARIAT! SECRETARIAT WAS ELITE! SECRETARIAT WOULD BEAT AMERICAN PHAROAH TODAY.
Stephen A. Smith: I don’t disagree with what you said, except the part where Secretariat wins today, because Secretariat’s dead. I mean, you’re absolutely right with what you’re saying about Secretariat. American Pharoah is no Secretariat, plus, he doesn’t spell Pharaoh correctly.
Skip Bayless: Stephen A., Stephen A. Stephen A.! I don’t have a problem with American Pharoah’s win. I DON’T! MY PROBLEM IS WITH HOW HE RAN THE RACE! DO YOU THINK SECRETARIAT WINS THAT RACE BY LESS THAN 10 LENGTHS?!
Stephen A. Smith: To be quite honest with you, it resonates even more profoundly because American Pharoah is the best horse in the game today. Skip. I’m from New York. The Belmont Stakes is run there. I KNOW THE BELMONT!
Skip Bayless: Exactly Stephen A. And I agree with you. I do. American Pharoah is the best horse in the game today. But, I hate to say this Stephen A. You know I do. But do you know who American Pharoah reminds me of?
Stephen A. Smith: Who?
Skip Bayless: LeBron James. Just like LeBron, American Pharoah may win some titles, but he just isn’t the winner that the all-time greats are. He doesn’t carry himself well off the track and he doesn’t inspire his other horses to compete.
Stephen A. Smith: But he doesn’t want to inspire the other horses. HORSE RACING IS NOT A TEAM SPORT! He has to BEAT those other horses!
Skip Bayless: STEPHEN A.! IF AMERICAN PHAROAH WANTS TO BE THE GREATEST HORSE EVER, HE HAS TO SHOW ME SOMETHING!
Stephen A. Smith: That’s asinine!
Skip Bayless: This has been my consistent criticism of this horse even though I know nothing about horse racing and just learned about this horse’s existence five weeks ago.
Stephen A. Smith: I see you Skip. I do. But this horse just won horse racing’s Triple Crown. And I spoke to A.P., that’s what I call American Pharoah. I spoke to A.P. on the phone last night, and he told me he could have had a better race.
Skip Bayless: But if American Pharoah wins by more than 10 lengths, we’re having a completely different conversation this morning. He joins that elite group. The other horses bow in envy. He stars in Secretariat 2! AND THERE’S PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!!!
Stephen A. Smith: Exactly. What?
Skip Bayless: But why does American Pharoah resort to winning wire to wire? Why doesn’t he utilize the rest of the track? Why doesn’t he come through in the clutch? Do you know who would come through in the clutch?
Stephen A. Smith: But he did come through in the clutch.
Skip Bayless: What?
Stephen A. Smith: Sorry, I forgot my role. Who would come through in the clutch?
Skip Bayless: TIM TEBOW! HE LED THE BRONCOS TO THE PLAYOFF WIN OF THE CENTURY AND HE COULD LEAD THIS BRONCO TO THE TITLE! HE JUST NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A CHANCE!
Stephen A. Smith: I think Tebow’s a tad too large to be a jockey.
Skip Bayless: FREE TEBOW!
Stephen A. Smith: Skip, my brother. My man. My broseph. My dog. This horse just did something no other horse has done since 1978.
Skip Bayless: And that’s exactly why I have questioned his clutch gene in the past.
Stephen A. Smith: What are you talking about? What am I even doing here? You do realize that I don’t really speak like this don’t you? I have a degree. I am a tremendous journalist.
Skip Bayless: And how much money were you making as a “tremendous journalist?”
Stephen A. Smith: Terrific point Skip. THAT’S ASININE, ASITEN, ASIELEVEN, AND ASITWELVE!
Skip Bayless: I’m sorry Stephen A. We can’t agree on everything. But I covered Michael Jordan and he was the greatest winner who ever was. And my gut and the eye test tell me, American Pharoah just doesn’t have what it takes. He doesn’t have the clutch gene. MARK MY WORDS STEPHEN A.! AMERICAN PHAROAH DOES NOT REPEAT AS TRIPLE CROWN WINNER NEXT YEAR!
Stephen A. Smith: Um, Skip, he can’t. Only three-year-olds compete in the Triple Crown. American Pharoah is ineligible next year.
Skip Bayless: EXACTLY!
Cari Champion: Impressive debate as always. We’ll be back after these messages to discuss who would win in a foot race between American Pharoah, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Chad Ochocinco.