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Brian Windhorst: We’ve gotten really good response from live events in the U.S. and, to be honest with you, a few months ago, Pat McAfee was on an all-hands call and encouraged people to find ways to take their shows on the road because it’s been a great boon for his show. There’s so many positives with it and especially if you can get partnerships and I was already thinking of doing this but you know, there’s, McAfee, who has had a lot of success and so I definitely took his encouragement under advisement and we got this deal done.
Days before that first Kawhi story broke, The New York Times struck a seven-figure licensing deal with Torre and Meadowlark Media to host Pablo Torre Finds Out on The Athletic. The deal presaged the increasingly complex nature of the Times’s relationship with its sports media franchise. Much like ESPN’s own licensing deal with Pat McAfee, the Times’s new partnership with outside talent raised questions about the consistency and integrity of its editorial product. Would Torre be held to the Times’s exacting standards, or did he get to play by his own rules? Torre’s Kawhi reporting was undeniably strong, but, as a podcaster, it came with a layer of prosecutorial insinuation and anonymous sourcing that wouldn’t have survived the Times edit desk. However the Times intended to manage this awkward choreography, it was happy to claim Torre as one of its own—especially after Pablo Torre Finds Out won the Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting for its work exposing the Clippers alleged evasion of the salary cap. The Times and its publisher, A.G. Sulzberger, proudly touted this as the first-ever Pulitzer for The Athletic. Torre gamely accepted the association with the Times, which he described as “an honor in and of itself.” But, as Times and Athletic sources acknowledged to me this week, the prizewinning reporting actually started long before the licensing deal and was produced independent of the Athletic.
Responding to Buss' side, Charania stressed that ESPN never reported that all six Buss siblings had voted to sell the remaining shares. "I just have to make it very clear, I fully stand by my reporting," Charania said on the Pat McAfee show. "What I reported was that there was a majority vote, at least four of six necessary to be able to close a transfer as far as the tag-along provision, and I had a statement from the Buss Family Trust."
Author Jeff Pearlman criticized Pat McAfee after McAfee said on his show that he used advance information from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania to place a bet on LeBron James’ free agency destination. Charania had told McAfee ahead of time that he would want him on the show that day, which McAfee said signaled that James had made his decision before it became public. Pearlman argued in a TikTok video that the moment showed ESPN had abandoned its claim to journalistic credibility. McAfee recounted the exchange on his show, saying, “We were told by Shams, ‘You’re gonna want me on the show today.'” He continued, “So it’s like, OK, decision’s being made. I just hammered top four. He was at +700.”
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager, said that the organization wanted to give James the space and time necessary to figure out whatever he plans to do next. Team sources have said that stance has not changed. James’ agent, Rich Paul, told Pat McAfee Friday that he hadn’t even discussed options for next season with James (though he mentioned interest from a third of the league should James decide to continue playing).
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ESPN anchor Pat McAfee pricelessly referred to former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as “some very rich guy” after the billionaire was nearly crushed in the crowd when Knicks guard Jose Alvarado leapt into the stands chasing a loose ball. “Alvarado’s sitting on some very rich guy,” McAfee joked on the alternate broadcast of Game 3 of the NBA Finals. “Oh, that’s Mayor Bloomberg!” he quickly added after realizing who the courtside fan was.
Pat McAfee: Shams Charania: "Austin Reaves could play on Wednesday in Game 5.. Luka Doncic will not be returning in this series"
Pat McAfee: "Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs believed that he was cleared to play in game three.. He was pissed that he wasn't able to play"
Pat McAfee: "I think the Rockets are preparing to play without Kevin Durant in game five.. They're gonna be looking to lean on that young core moving forward" ~ @ShamsCharania
Shaquille O’Neal: When you're talking about that goat conversation, I would like to hear all the names. And I'm about to add one more name cuz he's unbelievable. I rather than just going Mike and LeBron, which is fine. It's your choice. Got to put Kobe in there. Just put him in the conversation. And now I'm saying it here on the Pat McAfee show, got to put Stephen Curry in there. The only thing Steph Curry has not done those other guys have done is the finishing dunk. Think about what I'm saying. Like all the other guys they have, they have a finishing dunk play. But Steph Curry behind that line is… The impact is similar to a finishing dunk. But you definitely got to put him as one of the greatest players of all time. Kobe, Mike, LeBron, Steph.
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Pat McAfee: "The reality is we're watching the end of a relationship between LeBron James and the Lakers.. The end is near however you wanna slice it.. Whether he retires at the end of the season or if he signs somewhere else as a free agent"
Pat McAfee: "These conversations between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have been happening since May.. Recently these conversations about his future have only intensified" ~ Shams Charania
Pat McAfee: "The frustration that Giannis Antetokounmpo has is at an all time high.. I've been hearing for months that the writing is on the wall for Giannis and the Bucks.. It's just how do they get there and when do they get there" ~ Shams Charania
Pat McAfee: "Giannis Antetokounmpo has made it very clear that he wants to compete for championships.. That isn't what has transpired in Milwaukee this season.. The Bucks and Giannis have major decisions to make the next two weeks" ~ @ShamsCharania