It pitted Mr. Bayless, a journalist who helped popularize the daytime sports talk format on ESPN with a show called “First Take,” against Mr. Sharpe, a Hall of Fame tight end who won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. In an early episode of the show in 2016, Lil Wayne appeared to discuss the national anthem protests led by Colin Kaepernick and other N.F.L. This is not a perspective that has much cultural purchase on NPR or CNN, but it is shared by millions of Americans. Throughout their exchange, Mr. Bayless asked occasional questions but seemed mostly content to listen. A self-described “God and country guy,” Mr. Bayless is often considered a mouthpiece for older, tradition-minded sports fans, but his own views are somewhat less predictable.

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Persons: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, ”, Bayless, Sharpe, Lil Wayne, —, Covid, George Floyd, Colin Kaepernick, Mr, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s, Justice Ginsberg Organizations: ESPN, Fame, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, YouTube, Lakers, Cleveland Browns, NPR, CNN Locations: African American, Georgia