Last month, sports talking head Stephen A. Smith said he would “no longer close the door” on running for president in 2028, at least according to a report from BetOnline. As the site then remarks, “(BetOnline) is fully confident he will be able to bring bipartisanship to the United States and a peace amongst people not seen in years.” With this announcement, though, the oddsmakers at BetOnline created odds for who may be his running mate. At +2500, entertainment personality and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe is the frontrunner for this honor of running alongside Smith. Meanwhile, another prominent media personality/Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, could be in line for a VP run as well at +3300. In fact, many of the names cited on this list are famous sports personalities, which, of course, would make for a very interesting ticket should this come to fruition.
For this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming notes and news coming from BetOnline, along with some different thoughts you can find only at SBS.
For sports fans, Smith’s name is synonymous with “embracing debate,” firing off hot takes, and, of course, creating dialogue and conversation about what happens in sports and the world at large. An American sports television personality, he has made frequent appearances as an NBA analyst for ESPN on SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and hosted the Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN Radio. However, he might be most famous for his role as a commentator on ESPN’s First Take, where he appears with Molly Qerim. Regarding his participation in the latter category, Smith revolutionized the sports media genre alongside other famous commentators like rival Skip Bayless and the aforementioned Sharpe.
Regarding politics, Smith in the past has described himself as an independent. Additionally, he has also described himself as a “proud capitalist” as well and has interviewed politicians on his YouTube channel, including Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and then House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (+25000). Back in the fall of last year, following the presidential election, Smith stated he would consider running in 2028 if he had a reasonable chance of victory. Since then, he has mulled over the notion of running for president, even reaffirming last month his desire to keep the possibility open. Per sources, he explained that he was considering running for president again due to associates, including elected officials, urging him to do so. “People have walked up to me, including my own pastor,” he stated in an interview with ABC. “You can make a difference in this country by leaving the door open.”
Though he has been in some controversial news as of late, Sharpe is a leading contender to be Smith’s running mate. A Hall of Fame player, since retirement, he has become a prominent media figure, appearing as the co-host for Skip and Shannon: Undisputed on Fox with Bayless from 2016 to 2023. Since the turn of this century, Sharpe has also become a prominent figure in the sports podcast space, hosting Club Shay Shay and Nightcap.
Trailing Sharpe in the rankings is Barkley at +3300, and this would make for another entertaining ticket and definitely a compelling tandem to run against. With all of the aforementioned candidates having a sensational debating sensibility, there definitely would be no shortage of lost words here. Speaking of which, BetOnline has Smith’s former co-host, Bayless (+3300), as another candidate who could definitely spark a ton of interest if they ran together.
Going down the list, Colin Cowherd is on the website (+4000) and another spectacular candidate to think could team up with Stephen A. Additionally, the first current professional athlete makes an appearance on the list at +5000 in NBA guard Kyrie Irving. One of the most dynamic players of the modern era, Irving, also has some outspoken views about the world at-large, which could make for a compelling ticket in some other regards.
Beyond Irving, golf legend Tiger Woods registers at +5000 on the list, which is another interesting selection from the site. While he is certainly a legendary player and one of the greatest of all time, it remains to be seen how he plays in a political space. There are a variety of other big names on this list, like LeBron James at +10000, former NFL star Colin Kaepernick (+10000), and former first lady Michelle Obama (+25000). Rounding out the list of contenders are Hillary Clinton (+5000) and Gavin Newsom (+50000), which of course would be compelling in their own rights and certainly make for great political theater.
Once you are all up to date on the latest and greatest gaming notes coming from BetOnline, make sure to check out the excellent array of insights available to you only at SBS. For even more analysis on the outlet covered here, the BetOnline Sportsbook review guide has eligible customers covered with all kinds of great analysis. Conversely, for those interested in some higher-stakes wagering, the VIP sports betting sites rundown has your back with a fantastic array of info. This includes things like understanding the perks of VIP wagering and how you can make the most of it if you qualify. Finally, if you are still intrigued by the topic in this report, the politics betting sites breakdown is great for you to check out as a fan of these intriguing markets.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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