Shannon Sharpe selected as BetOnline’s V.P. frontrunner for Smith

Updated May 3, 2025
Updated May 3, 2025By Chris Boline
betonline betting news may 2025

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. 

Smith’s political ambition has been on the rise

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.”

BetOnline VP odds feature array of candidates

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. 

Interesting long shots make the BetOnline list 

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. 

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Additional thoughts regarding BetOnline gaming 

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. 

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About the Author

Chris Boline
Chris Boline

As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education

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