Despite having past issues with ESPN’s Sam Ponder, when news came out that she and Robert Griffin III had been laid off from the company, Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy surprisingly did not take the opportunity to celebrate at Ponder’s expense. Portnoy instead posted a video where he ultimately wished Ponder well after mentioning the history where he blamed her for the quick end to a Barstool project.
“Okay, big news coming out at ESPN, the Worldwide Leader, Robert Griffin fired and Sam Ponder fired,” Portnoy said. “That is right, Sam Ponder. She’s the reason Barstool Van Talk, amongst other things, was canceled after one show.
Portnoy is seen walking around his house and into a wine cellar. “…Everyone’s like, Prez, where’s the Sam Ponder bottle? Uh-uh-uh, no Sam Ponder bottle,” he says. “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.”
He went on to take shots at former ESPN boss John Skipper saying he opened a bottle of champagne when he left ESPN, but as for Ponder he said, “No grudge. Listen, I said some things, she held on to them, she played her card. I have no grudge with that. 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.”
