While ESPN’s popular “First Take” has had many, many stars outside of the realm of sports to come on the uber-popular show over the years, there may have never been as formidable of a duo — in terms of sports and culture intersecting — than what popped up on August 12.
That’s when 2-time Oscar winning actor Denzel Washington and Oscar winning writer/director Spike Lee came on to promote their latest movie, “Highest 2 Lowest” and the conversation inevitably led to a trio of teams.
Washington is a longtime fan of the Dallas Cowboys — “Since the 1960s,” Washington told host Stephen A. Smith — and the Los Angeles Lakers.
After Lakers fan Jack Nicholson, another multiple-time Oscar winner, Lee is perhaps the most famous fan in NBA history for his lifetime allegiance to the New York Knicks.
Washington was just minutes into the segment when he was prompted by Smith to talk about the ongoing, messy contract negotiations between Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and NFL All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
“I don’t like what (Jones) is doing … I respect the owner, but I don’t like what it’s doing to the fans,” Washington said. “He’s not thinking about us, the fans. He’s thinking about his pockets. It’s like … there’s box office and there’s The Oscars. And you ain’t been to (The Oscars) in a minute. At the end of the day, I’m still gonna wear my hat with the star on it … but all money ain’t good money, Jerry!”
The Cowboys, who have won 3 Super Bowls with Jones as the owner, haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season — also the last time they even advanced to the NFC Championship Game.
Fifth Movie Together For Washington, Lee
“Highest 2 Lowest” is a remake/reimagining of legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High to Low” and is the fifth film starring Washington and directed by Lee.
Together, the duo has created some of the more memorable films of the last 50 years, including “Mo Better Blues” (1990), “Malcolm X” (1992), “He Got Game” (1998) and “Inside Man” (2006), with Washington earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Malcolm X.
The pair’s greatest hit in terms of box office was their last film — “Inside Man” was made on a $50 million budget and made approximately $185 million at the box office.
Washington is a 9-time Academy Award nominee and has won twice; Best Supporting Actor for the Civil War epic “Glory” in 1989 and Best Actor for his role as the villainous cop in “Training Day” in 2001.
Jones, Parsons Still Seem Far Apart on Deal
If Washington is weighing in on Cowboys’ contract talks during an appearance on ESPN, it’s safe to say the situation has reached the point where it’s become one of the more notable moments in franchise history in terms of messy contract talks.
While there’s still a chance a deal could get done in the coming weeks, the real question now would be whether Parsons could be ready for the regular season opener — an “All Eyes on Me” showdown on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to open the entire 2025 NFL season on September 4.
