The sports media landscape is bracing itself for a forthcoming clash of opinions, as ESPN’s prominent personality Pat McAfee and The Ringer’s top executive Bill Simmons prepare to engage in a war of words. This dispute originated when Simmons voiced his criticisms regarding McAfee’s sports analysis on his show. Recently, tensions flared up again when McAfee took a jab at Simmons’ unsuccessful Super Bowl parlay bet, which he made in collaboration with FanDuel. Although 8,000 individuals placed their bets alongside Simmons, the outcome was not in their favor. McAfee sarcastically remarked, “I think Bill Simmons, who believes he has it all figured out, had a massive following of 8,000 people. That’s a significant number that didn’t succeed. Well done, Bill. Keep talking.” While McAfee mentioned that 250,000 people joined him in his parlay, he did not disclose whether it was successful or not. Consequently, McAfee’s response to Simmons’ initial comments has shifted the focus back to Simmons.
In response, the founder of The Ringer offered a concise and straightforward rebuttal during a discussion about the general increase in TV ratings for sports, with only a few exceptions. Simmons highlighted the NBA and the replacement for the noon edition of SportsCenter as examples of ratings decline. Interestingly, the replacement for the noon edition of SportsCenter happens to be Pat McAfee. Simmons remarked, “Everyone’s ratings are soaring, except for the NBA and whoever took over the 12 pm SportsCenter slot. If your ratings don’t improve, it’s a negative sign.” This remark undoubtedly struck a nerve.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first instance where McAfee’s underwhelming TV ratings have been subject to criticism. While his ratings may not be exceptional, it is crucial to recognize the substantial online audience he attracts, which was precisely what ESPN aimed to tap into. Nevertheless, the ratings remain subpar, especially when considering the lead-in from First Take, which continues to be a constant source of frustration for McAfee.
Now, the ball is in McAfee’s court to respond to Simmons, and it is highly anticipated that he will seize the opportunity. It will be intriguing to see what approach he takes in criticizing Simmons, with my bet being on him mentioning Simmons’ unsuccessful HBO show.
According to the Source outkick.com