What it’s like to be married to ‘complete psycho’ Skip Bayless
By Andrew Marchand
September 12, 2019 | 2:01pm | Updated
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Ernestine and Skip BaylessGetty Images
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Skip Bayless is being called “nuts,“ a “complete psycho” and diagnosed with something known as “jinx demons.”
The person making the allegations about Skip Bayless is … Skip Bayless.
What Bayless is describing is how he watches games in his and his wife’s 5,000-square-foot condo that has three rooms, seven TVs — including two 70-inchers in his bedroom — and is located just two minutes from Fox Sports 1’s Los Angeles studios.
Bayless — American sports media’s most successful professional troll, as his $6.5 million salary attests — has a life centered around watching games. His wife, Ernestine Sclafani Bayless, has a life centered around making their marriage work. That sometimes means getting out of the way.
“She can’t be in my force field when I’m watching these games,” Skip said.
When they met 14 years ago, Skip cherished the fact that Ernestine knew nothing about sports. It could be argued they were on equal footing. There was a spark from the start. Skip quickly made it clear what would come first.
“I told her I’m married to my job,” Skip said. “I always have been. I had this weird feeling this could go somewhere. I told her, ‘If it ever does, you’ll always be 1A to my job.’ She hates me telling that story, but it is the God’s truth. At least I divulged myself up front, which I think she grudgingly appreciated.”
They met on the set of “Cold Pizza,” which was ESPN’s first take at “First Take.” She was a PR executive and had brought in “Entourage” actor Kevin Dillon, who portrayed Johnny “Drama” on the show, to the program’s Manhattan studios.
Skip and Ernestine would go on to date for 11 years before tying the knot three years ago. It was her first and his second marriage. He calls her a “firecracker,” which is an apt description. She is persuasive, and you could easily tell she was successful in PR.
Skip Bayless works too hard to have hot-take regrets
It turns out last year during the AFC Championship game when Tom Brady was intercepted in the end zone by the Chiefs’ Reggie Ragland, it was caused by Ernestine ruining Skip’s zen.
“[Brady] did that because she stuck her head in to ask me about something that was completely irrelevant,” Skip said of Ernestine asking about a letter he had received.
“Her fuse can be shorter than mine and we had a battle all night long. We kissed and made up at the end of the night. I said, ‘I’m sorry, but it is just a jinx rule that you have to honor.’”
They usually honor Friday nights as date night, unless there is a particularly big game.
“It is all about compromise,” Ernestine said.
She has learned to make it work, which is the point of her book.
“She’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Skip said. “I get emotional about it because she is so real, so true and so loyal. I don’t know anyone who could put up with me, but she has from Day 1. We are not just good together. We are great together.”
By Andrew Marchand
September 12, 2019 | 2:01pm | Updated
Enlarge Image
Ernestine and Skip BaylessGetty Images
MORE FROM:
ANDREW MARCHAND
Mike Francesa is the culprit behind Chris Carlin's WFAN demise
How ESPN made fools of its doubters during 40-year run
Urban Meyer is becoming game-changer in his new TV gig
ESPN's plan to reignite Katie Nolan's show
NFL preview: ESPN facing season of scrutiny in booth and studio
Skip Bayless is being called “nuts,“ a “complete psycho” and diagnosed with something known as “jinx demons.”
The person making the allegations about Skip Bayless is … Skip Bayless.
What Bayless is describing is how he watches games in his and his wife’s 5,000-square-foot condo that has three rooms, seven TVs — including two 70-inchers in his bedroom — and is located just two minutes from Fox Sports 1’s Los Angeles studios.
Bayless — American sports media’s most successful professional troll, as his $6.5 million salary attests — has a life centered around watching games. His wife, Ernestine Sclafani Bayless, has a life centered around making their marriage work. That sometimes means getting out of the way.
“She can’t be in my force field when I’m watching these games,” Skip said.
When they met 14 years ago, Skip cherished the fact that Ernestine knew nothing about sports. It could be argued they were on equal footing. There was a spark from the start. Skip quickly made it clear what would come first.
“I told her I’m married to my job,” Skip said. “I always have been. I had this weird feeling this could go somewhere. I told her, ‘If it ever does, you’ll always be 1A to my job.’ She hates me telling that story, but it is the God’s truth. At least I divulged myself up front, which I think she grudgingly appreciated.”
They met on the set of “Cold Pizza,” which was ESPN’s first take at “First Take.” She was a PR executive and had brought in “Entourage” actor Kevin Dillon, who portrayed Johnny “Drama” on the show, to the program’s Manhattan studios.
Skip and Ernestine would go on to date for 11 years before tying the knot three years ago. It was her first and his second marriage. He calls her a “firecracker,” which is an apt description. She is persuasive, and you could easily tell she was successful in PR.
Skip Bayless works too hard to have hot-take regrets
It turns out last year during the AFC Championship game when Tom Brady was intercepted in the end zone by the Chiefs’ Reggie Ragland, it was caused by Ernestine ruining Skip’s zen.
“[Brady] did that because she stuck her head in to ask me about something that was completely irrelevant,” Skip said of Ernestine asking about a letter he had received.
“Her fuse can be shorter than mine and we had a battle all night long. We kissed and made up at the end of the night. I said, ‘I’m sorry, but it is just a jinx rule that you have to honor.’”
They usually honor Friday nights as date night, unless there is a particularly big game.
“It is all about compromise,” Ernestine said.
She has learned to make it work, which is the point of her book.
“She’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Skip said. “I get emotional about it because she is so real, so true and so loyal. I don’t know anyone who could put up with me, but she has from Day 1. We are not just good together. We are great together.”
