If you turn on ESPN at any moment of they day, you have a decent chance of seeing either Stephen A. Smith or Pat McAfee. And that’s something that has former ESPN star Trey Wingo yearning for simpler times at the network.

It’s no secret that ESPN has gone all in on big names and starpower, seeing that as the best way to successfully navigate the changing dynamic of the media world and the dawn of their new flagship streaming platform. There was once a time when sports were the star at the network and nobody was bigger than ESPN. That has done a complete 180 in recent years with the likes of Smith and McAfee now being the two central personalities and not even being located in Bristol.

McAfee has almost complete autonomy at ESPN given his daily show is licensed. His larger than life presence at College GameDay has also seen the stalwart college football program shift more towards his idea of sports entertainment. On Monday night he showed up at the Home Run Derby, although he failed to make the same connection with baseball fans that he does on Saturday mornings.

Likewise Smith has his own personal empire with his podcast and political career and soon to be SiriusXM gig with ESPN just being a part of his wider portfolio. But his oversized personality still has plenty of time to dominate ESPN airwaves whether it be First Take, NBA Finals coverage, and perhaps soon to be the NFL as well.

If you feel as though you can’t escape ESPN’s twin towers, you’re not alone.

In quote tweeting a post that said, “Kids today don’t realize it, but you used to be able to turn on ESPN and not see Stephen A. Smith or Pat McAfee. They were glorious times….” former SportsCenter anchor and NFL host Trey Wingo reminisced on what was and made an analogy that today’s ESPN doesn’t have the options it once did for sports fans.

Let me preface this by saying I have so many wonderful memories and so many great friends still working there that I want to succeed… but he’s right. It used to be a glorious buffet where you could pick and choose what you wanted. Now it’s like a banquet dinner: chicken or fish? https://t.co/xYxFPPdUfi

— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 15, 2025

“Let me preface this by saying I have so many wonderful memories and so many great friends still working there that I want to succeed… but he’s right. It used to be a glorious buffet where you could pick and choose what you wanted. Now it’s like a banquet dinner: chicken or fish?” Wingo stated.

In many ways, Wingo is relating to the fans that grew up on his version of ESPN. But those days have long since passed the industry by. And in some ways, you can understand it from ESPN’s perspective because if it was still enough for SportsCenter to lead the network with highlights, then that would be the case today. Whether it speaks to a generational shift or what draws eyeballs in today’s media world, ESPN is a drastically different place than it was at the turn of the century. It’s up to you to decide if that’s for the better or the worst.