The Backstory
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has been a vocal critic of the NFL’s officiating. He has been calling for the league to improve its refereeing for years, and has even gone so far as to suggest that the league should consider hiring more referees from the Canadian Football League (CFL).
“I just can’t believe what I’m seeing here.” He was referring to a play where the opposing team, the Patriots, had scored a touchdown. The Patriots had been in the game for only 1 minute and 15 seconds. The referee, who was wearing a headset, appeared to be distracted and was not paying attention to the play. He failed to notice a holding call on the Patriots’ receiver, which resulted in the score. Portnoy pointed out the obvious: the referee had clearly missed the holding call, and the play should not have counted.
Portnoy’s scathing critique of the referees highlights the importance of impartiality in sports.
45 days of inactivity? 40 days of inactivity in a row? That’s even more ridiculous than the 45 days of incoherence that I was talking about earlier.” [Original Summary] Aaron Portnoy, a prominent American humorist and writer, criticizes the referees of the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles’ NFL game against the New England Patriots. He expresses his frustration with their inconsistent and incompetent performance. Key Points:
The 2018 Philadelphia Eagles versus New England Patriots game was a highly anticipated matchup, and for many fans, it was a defining moment in the season. However, the performance of the referees left much to be desired.
The Rise of Barstool Sports
Barstool Sports was founded in 2003 by Dave Portnoy, a self-proclaimed “sports junkie” and entrepreneur. The company started as a blog, where Portnoy shared his opinions on sports and entertainment. Over time, Barstool Sports grew into a popular online publication, known for its irreverent and humorous content. Key features of Barstool Sports include:
The Penn Entertainment Acquisition
In 2021, Penn Entertainment acquired Barstool Sports for a staggering $551 million. The acquisition was seen as a major coup for Penn Entertainment, which was looking to expand its reach and offerings in the sports and entertainment space.
He is best known for founding the popular blog Barstool Sports, which he sold to Penn National Gaming in 2016 for $163 million.
The Early Life and Career of David Portnoy
David Portnoy was born on March 7, 1981, in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up in a Jewish family, Portnoy developed an interest in sports and humor at a young age. He attended Boston University, where he studied business and graduated in 2003.
The Founding of Barstool Sports
After college, Portnoy began his career in the sports media industry. In 2003, he founded Barstool Sports, a blog that quickly gained popularity for its humorous and irreverent take on sports.