On Monday, Max Kellerman was officially named Skip Bayless’ permanent replacement on ESPN morning debate series “First Take.”
The departing “SportsNation” host should not be an unknown quantity to any sports fan — particularly those that love the sweet science. Others still may have taken in the Bronx native elsewhere, whether in the “Rocky” films, “Sharknado” franchise, or even across cable news.
Kellerman’s impressive career started earlier than most: In his teens, the fighting enthusiast got noticed for hosting New York City public access show “Max on Boxing.”
The kid was cultured too; a young Max wrote a play called “The Man Who Hated Shakespeare.” What were you doing in your teens?
Hip-hop head Kellerman was a legitimate (adjective debatable) rapper.
He and brother Sam (pictured, left) were signed under Columbia Records in 1994 as “Max and Sam.” They even recorded a music video, “Young Man Rumble.”
Lest you forgot, Kellerman was the original host of ESPN’s “PTI” lead-in “Around the Horn.” And his chinstrap game was strong.
He left the network in 2004, however, the same year tragedy struck his household.
Max’s beloved brother Sam Kellerman (pictured, left) was murdered in a most horrifying manner.
A former boxer taken in by Sam slew the promising writer via repeated head blows with a hammer, and then set his apartment on fire. The bipolar James Butler (right) received 29 years for the heinous crime.
After jumping ship from ESPN, Kellerman joined Fox Sports Network, hosting a terrific series called “I, Max.” But the show was canceled just a year or so later. Perhaps no one could find Fox Sports Network.
Kellerman soon returned to his boxing roots, primarily with HBO. All the while, the talented blabbermouth has held numerous radio gigs.
Kellerman has gone political: In 2005, he twice guested on Tucker Carlson’s short-lived, self-titled MSNBC talk show. May not sound like a lot, but it was like 29 percent of “Tucker’s” total airings.
Five years later, Kellerman was hired by CNN.
Not exactly a stretch: Kellerman has played a boxing analyst role in the last two “Rocky” films. He was credited as himself in “Creed.”
Kellerman has also played himself in “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” Careful of typecasting, Max.
But the dude CAN act, sort of: Kellerman played Airman Joseph in “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!”
Oh, Hell no.
Since 2013, Kellerman has been chatting away on ESPN’s “SportsNation,” which currently stars Michelle Beadle and Marcellus Wiley (both pictured).
They now have an empty chair — and big shoes — to fill. Maybe Beadle will just talk more.
Kellerman kicks off his “First Take” run on July 25. No word yet on how much he’ll obsess over Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel.
Good luck, Max! And look out for that Stephen A. Smith character; he’s a doozy.
