After speculation that ESPN would be getting into the sports betting space, it finally happened earlier this week, and 105.3 The Fan host Shan Shariff wondered if an apology was in order for The Worldwide Leader.
ESPN’s embracing of sports betting has been well documented, and after months of wondering what an ESPN presence in that space would look like, Tuesday’s announcement provided details.
After several rounds of layoffs and parent company Disney trying to right its financial ship, Shan Shariff just asked if his show should say sorry to ESPN.
“Do we all owe them an apology for burying them and predicting their demise financially with the Pat McAfee deal? All the articles you’ve been sending, Bobby, and then yesterday they work out a three-way with Barstool Sports and Penn National for gaming,” he said.
Producer Bobby Belt didn’t seem so high on things being sorted out just with this deal alone.
“I don’t know that I give ESPN credit,” Belt said. “Like I wonder is it credit, or does it strike you more as panic moves?”
Belt pointed to the Pat McAfee deal amidst layoffs, as well as stories that ESPN is also pursuing local baseball rights. He wondered if the network just felt like betting was the answer to their problems.
“It feels a little bit like they’re trying to do anything to sustain,” he said, later adding “ESPN’s just hemorrhaging money at this point and is I think throwing hail marys.”
