A former MVP quarterback and NFL legend has weighed in on the kerfuffle between the Washington Post and Bartsool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy. It should be recalled that Portnoy called out a WaPo reporter, quite literally, over the reporter in question, contacting Barstool sponsors and besmirching the CEO.
In a recorded conversation earlier this week, Portnoy called the Washington Post reporter responsible, Emily Heil, and confronted her about her attempts to sabotage his “One Bite Pizza Festival” by contacting advertisers and calling Porntoy misogynistic and racist.
Heil initially denied the allegations until Portnoy produced proof, whereupon Heil went into spin control and attempted to dig herself out of her lie. It didn’t work, and now the clip has been viewed over 29 million times on social media, exposing Heil and the Washington Post for what they are: leftist provocateurs.
Former NFL great Boomer Esiason, himself an outspoken, polarizing figure, weighed in on the situation on his radio show. Esiason labeled the details from the conversation as an “absolute, obvious” example of “cancel culture syndrome.”
Esiason, who was named the league MVP in 1988 as the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, has a history of activism and outspokenness. He famously led the players in the strike of 1987 and parlayed his playing career into an esteemed broadcasting career.
Esiason openly questioned whether or not Portnoy would stoop to WaPo’s level and call their advertisers to report their shady dealings. He said: “The real question is do you think Dave Portnoy has ever called somebody who’s advertising within the Washington Post and says, ‘Do you know what these people are doing behind the backs of everyone else? It’s a one-way street.’
Naturally, the answer is no. Portnoy may be abrasive and a bit of a frat boy, but shady and conniving, he isn’t. He would rather call someone out on their shenanigans than sneak behind anyone’s back and attempt to hurt their business.
Esiason went further and labeled the entire incident as proof-positive that the woke movement is real and destructive. He continued: “This is basically proof positive of what the woke aspect of this world is all about, right there.”
It would be one thing if the Post and Emily Heil were to own up to their misdeeds and face Portnoy one-on-one, but despite their assertion that it was their intention, the Post canceled the alleged interview they were planning.
The entire dust-up stems from an email Heil sent to a particular advertiser. It read: “We are planning to write about the festival and how some of the sponsors and participants have drawn criticism by seeming to associate themselves with Dave Portnoy, who has a history of misogynistic comments and other problematic behavior.”
The Post apparently was preparing to write a hit piece on Portnoy, and after getting smoked out for their shady intentions, backed off and canceled their planned interview with the Barstool boss.
The entire incident smacks of deceit and jealousy. The left would rather sneak around and attempt to cancel Portnoy for what they deem “problematic behavior” than actually sit down with him and have a civil discourse.
For their trouble, WaPo and Heil got embarrassed and potential litigation. Wouldn’t it have been easier for the Post to be the adults in the room and approach the story with fairness and honesty in mind? Possibly, but considering the mainstream media is anything but fair and honest, they got what they got, which was embarrassed on a viral scale.
Featured image screen grab from embedded YouTube video
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