The firestorm engulfs ESPN is a product of its own initiative, that’s what makes all this Pat McAfee–Aaron Rodgers so funny drama. The world leader hired comic relief and, shockingly, he simultaneously ignited Disney and Bristol from Indiana. In case you missed the consequences of Rodgers insinuating that ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel was a pedophileFriday, the network apologized (in a way), and McAfee accused executive Norby Williamson of trying to overthrow his show.
Mike Foss, ESPN’s senior vice president of digital and studio production, released a statement that took aim at Rodgers, but at least from what I could find did not include the words “sorry” or “apologize.”
“Pat announced today that he plans for Aaron to join the show on Tuesday. Aaron made a stupid, factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel,” Foss told Front Office Sports. “The show will continue to evolve. It wouldn’t surprise me if Aaron’s role evolves with this.
“This should never have happened. We all realized it at the time.
Although it is extremely different ESPN to jeopardize its relationship with No. 1 Boy, apologizing without an apology is 100% on brand. If the suits paid attention to the content of Rodgers’ segments rather than the impressions, they would know that the New York Jets quarterback was never smart and that he has gotten even dumber over the last three or four years.
For McAfee, attacking Williamson – who I suspect isn’t the most charismatic yes-man – is a smart move.
“I believe Norby Williamson is the one trying to sabotage our program,” McAfee said in his show on ESPN. “Now I’m not 100 percent sure. He’s apparently the only human who has information, and then that information gets leaked, and it’s wrong, and it defines the narrative of what our show is.
Blame anything except that blank stare he gets every time Rodgers is 17. Eli Cash The segment’s soliloquy is going off course, but McAfee has his squad, and they’re morons too. Your bet is as good as mine as to who will be more acrimonious on Tuesdays next week with Pat and Aaron.
What I do know is that if ESPN allows these two idiots back on the air together, whatever ratings problems the show may or may not have will be fixed. God knows I’ll be far from seeing Pat McAfee and Aaron Rodgers laughing like two drunk teenagers.
I might just dive into some rocks to be sure.
Knicks fans are swooning over OG Anunoby
New York improved to 3-0 with new addition OG Anunoby to the lineup, including wins over Philadelphia and Minnesota. Anunoby is Tom Thibodeau’s perfect chess piece, and his defense is already making a difference as the Knicks held the Sixers below 100 points for just the third time this season, 128-92, in Philadelphia on Friday.
That’s with Joel Embiid in the lineup if you ask.
Anunoby does exactly what Thibodeau expected from RJ Barrett. Kudos to the New York front office for continuing to make winning trades even if they’re just on the outskirts. I’m not sure how the game ended, but the Heat make the playoffs happen all the time with moxy and defense. You never know which of the top three in the East will collapse in the playoffs, and New York could make the grid.
Hey, I’m only partially stocking up on Knicks fans, and compared to recent history, that’s pretty good for early January.
