In a recent episode of the Le Batard & Friends - South Beach Sessions podcast, veteran sports journalists Dan Le Batard and Stephen A. Smith had a heated argument over the impact they have had on the sports journalism industry. Le Batard accused Smith and Skip Bayless of ruining sports television with their antics, spawning an industry of imitators who lack journalism credentials and believe that every sports headline must be turned into an argument on TV. Smith fired back, saying that they were not responsible for this trend, and that they always upheld journalistic ethics in their work. He argued that it's not their fault that the entertainment industry has created platforms such as podcasts and YouTube where people can gain popularity without a background in journalism.

While debate shows such as First Take, which both Smith and Le Batard co-hosted at different times, prioritize entertainment and drama over journalism, Smith maintained that he and Bayless were always journalists at their core. Le Batard conceded that journalism isn't ignored on such shows, but it shrinks in the shadow of the argument during a made-for-TV debate. The clash underscores the ongoing tension between entertainment and journalism in sports media.