Despite a rocky history with ESPN’s Sam Ponder, Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy took a surprisingly gracious approach when news broke that she and Robert Griffin III had been laid off by the network.
Rather than seizing the opportunity to celebrate or criticize, Portnoy posted a video in which he reflected on their past issues but ultimately wished Ponder well.
In the video, Portnoy began by acknowledging the big news coming out of ESPN. “Okay, big news coming out at ESPN, the Worldwide Leader: Robert Griffin fired and Sam Ponder fired,” Portnoy said. He then recalled their shared history, pointing out that Ponder was a key figure in the cancellation of Barstool Van Talk after just one episode. “That is right, Sam Ponder. She’s the reason Barstool Van Talk, amongst other things, was canceled after one show.”
As he walked through his house and into a wine cellar, Portnoy addressed the expectation that he might relish in Ponder’s misfortune. “Everyone’s like, Prez, where’s the Sam Ponder bottle? Uh-uh-uh, no Sam Ponder bottle,” he said, referencing the tradition of popping a bottle to celebrate certain events. “Can you believe that? Listen, we took the first shot. I took the first shot at Sam Ponder. Was I joking? Yeah. Do I think she and ESPN overreacted? I know so. But I’m fair, and I’ve said this about Ponder…buried the hatchet.”
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Portnoy continued by contrasting his feelings toward Ponder with those he had for former ESPN executive John Skipper, whom he did celebrate leaving ESPN. “I opened a bottle of champagne when Skipper left ESPN,” he admitted, but when it came to Ponder, his stance was different. “No grudge. Listen, I said some things, she held on to them, she played her card. I have no grudge with that.”
He concluded his video by wishing Ponder well in her future endeavors. “So, when people come out of left field and start fights with me, and they come at me first, Ponder’s not one of them. So good luck to her in her next step.”
Portnoy’s unexpected show of respect for Ponder, despite their contentious past, highlighted a side of him that many might not expect—one willing to put old grudges aside and recognize the challenges of the media industry.
