On Thursday, Dave Portnoy took another dig at ESPN. The Barstool Sports founder tweeted that the network has become “officially Barstool Jr.” This remark comes after the announcement of a new partnership involving Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, who host “Bussin’ With the Boys.” They are both former Barstool podcasters.
Portnoy expanded on his thoughts, stating that while he believes ESPN’s on-air personalities are decent, he doesn’t hold the same view about the higher-ups. He tweeted, “Also, people who confuse my criticism of ESPN with feedback on those who work there.” He expressed admiration for Pat McAfee, calling him a megastar, but was less kind to the corporate structure, labeling it “snake-like.”
Portnoy’s rivalry with ESPN dates back to when the network canceled “Barstool Van Talk” in 2017 following internal pushback.
In July, he revealed that Barstool was partnering with Fox Sports on multiple projects. “We’re affiliated with Noon Kickoff… I’m going to be involved every week,” he said in a video posted to X, mentioning that elements of Barstool will feature in “kickoff.” He described plans for an 8-10 daily show on Fox Sports 1, which he envisioned as a “Barstool breakfast show” or “Barstool wake-up.” They also have an office set up in Chicago, which he noted is eager to tap into Barstool’s vibe.
Portnoy expressed satisfaction with the deal, stating, “I’m very happy with this.”
Fox Sports echoed this sentiment, anticipating Portnoy and Barstool’s integration into their family. They appreciate his brand’s ability to connect with younger sports fans—authentic and original, aligning well with their content strategy.
Lastly, Portnoy isn’t one to shy away from controversy and is currently at odds with Ohio State ahead of their upcoming game against Texas.
