I think he was one of the first if not the first to merge Hip Hop culture and music references and appearances with hosting a sports show on a major mainstream network like ESPN.
He was doing it in as early as 96 I believe.
The meeting of Hip Hop /black culture and Sports shows is common place now we might take it for granted.
He was doing it even before that. When “the deuce” ESPN 2 came which I think
Was like 94’.