Rethinking Barstool?

CarolinaBeerGuy

Don't know him from Adam
SoSH Member
Mar 14, 2006
9,419
Kernersville, NC
You guys finally convinced me to watch and I must admit I was hooked about 5 minutes into watching the championship this afternoon. I’d never been interested in watching someone play a video game before, but this was fun. I don’t know what it is, but I’m in.
 

Vinho Tinto

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 9, 2003
7,046
Auburn, MA
I don’t know what it is, but I’m in.
To beat a dead horse, it's Big Cat. He does so many little things during the streams that are laugh out loud funny. The names he creates for the players are hall of fame. A pass rusher named Von Vaughn is so obvious that it's shocking it hasn't happened already.
 

Marciano490

Urological Expert
SoSH Member
Nov 4, 2007
62,312
I personally liked how I explained the number 1 in my rant. And nobody is saying this but it seems like water is helpful if you're dehydrated. NOBODY.
It’s about time someone steps up and tells the truth. You’re brave for putting this out there. A real damn hero. Thank you.
 

nattysez

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 30, 2010
8,432
Ron Insana on CNBC today raised the idea of the SEC investigating Portnoy. You can imagine how Portnoy reacted. And yes, I'm now hate-watching Portnoy's Twitter video rants regularly. I'm part of the problem.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
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Dec 24, 2002
48,205
I love how you continually create straw men to knock down, like you're the one talking truth to power. "Nobody's talking about this, but I WILL. Big Cat is talented." Mind. Blown.

I mean, Big Cat is the host of a wildly famous podcast (it is literally the #1 sports podcast on iTunes. That means he's at the top, as the number 1 is the highest rank you can reach) and he just hosted a NCAA 2014 football twitch stream that got more people than the most famous of twitch streamers. Nobody is saying he's not talented.

His talent is obvious. Obvious Straw Man is obvious, too.
I understand how my post may have looked like a strawman argument to some and I apologize for a poor choice of words. I was simply underscoring how impressive it is that Big Cat has been able to take a podcast, which admittedly is not just about sports, and further build his following at a time when their main source of material isn't playing. I know that's obvious too.

Question for you (as well as others) - why would you want to read any of my posts? You have stated in the past that you "don't get me as a poster" and you routinely dunk on me personally rather than just my content. Do you need help with the ignore button? I don't feel the same way about you because your posts, which mostly amount to these angry screeds directed at other posters as well as political leaders (you and I are roughly in the same zipcode here) because its simply easier to scroll through.

The ignore button is your friend!
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,669
I personally enjoy DJBMH’s unnecessary qualifiers and I also enjoy John’s occasional angry rants, even if they are directed at me. Helps contribute to the personality of SoSH and the Port Cellar more specifically.
 

JCizzle

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 11, 2006
20,530
I personally enjoy DJBMH’s unnecessary qualifiers and I also enjoy John’s occasional angry rants, even if they are directed at me. Helps contribute to the personality of SoSH and the Port Cellar more specifically.
I know the people may not acknowledge it, but I agree with all of the above. ;) All in good fun
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
32,620
I understand how my post may have looked like a strawman argument to some and I apologize for a poor choice of words. I was simply underscoring how impressive it is that Big Cat has been able to take a podcast, which admittedly is not just about sports, and further build his following at a time when their main source of material isn't playing. I know that's obvious too.

Question for you (as well as others) - why would you want to read any of my posts? You have stated in the past that you "don't get me as a poster" and you routinely dunk on me personally rather than just my content. Do you need help with the ignore button? I don't feel the same way about you because your posts, which mostly amount to these angry screeds directed at other posters as well as political leaders (you and I are roughly in the same zipcode here) because its simply easier to scroll through.

The ignore button is your friend!
I think you’re missing the comedic element to this situation. You might have beef with Trapper John from elsewhere but what made this encounter so damn funny was your milquetoast post leading to a blow up. If you said something inflammatory and he flamed you back, well that’s all good fun but ordinary. This was extraordinary.
 

bigq

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,084
I think you’re missing the comedic element to this situation. You might have beef with Trapper John from elsewhere but what made this encounter so damn funny was your milquetoast post leading to a blow up. If you said something inflammatory and he flamed you back, well that’s all good fun but ordinary. This was extraordinary.
Extraordinary says the guy who claims I enjoy them all without feeling a need to rank them.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
I never am. In a thread where someone prioritized politics over pizza it's clear that commieism has overrun America and that it's time to launch it into the sun.
 

ifmanis5

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2007
63,743
Rotten Apple
Pretends to have money, tweets out something that may or not be true, gets publicity. Well played, Dave.

View: https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1275118665604661254

An anonymous source has asked me if I’d like to be involved with an anonymous professional sports team if they anonymously buy the franchise. I wouldn’t have to relocate. Need to consider

View: https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1275165392890183681

Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy may be part of Alex Rodriguez's Mets ownership bid https://trib.al/4ivbJqR
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Barstool sold to Penn National for $450M. On top of selling half a few years earlier at a $10-$15M valuation. Not sure what he got but he claims his net worth is $100M+. Probably not that far off with some back of the envelope math.
 

Jim Ed Rice in HOF

Red-headed Skrub child
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
8,252
Seacoast NH
I mean I get people want to shit on Portnoy but Big Cat got something like $7M when the PENN deal happened. Thinking/wishing Portnoy has only got $10M off the various equity sales is crazy.
 

bankshot1

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 12, 2003
24,651
where I was last at
I'm not shitting on him, the guy is entertaining, but all I remember was he sold a controlling interest a few years ago for $10 milion. And I dont track his net worth.

My bigger point was even with some significant portion of Portnoy's net work leaves Arod & J-Lo over $2 billion shy of buying the Mets.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Portnoy's net worth varies from $100M - $120M based on the price of Penn stock. He got paid, and will get paid again when $PENN buys out more of the Barstool stock in 3 years. And if $PENN keeps going up, so will his net worth.

He's quite wealthy and could buy in as a (small) minority owner to a sports team with no problem.
 

Helmet Head

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
4,594
Central Mass
I fear Big Cat may have gotten too good at NCAA 14 (heisman level) at this point. It was a good run and I really enjoyed watching. He basically figured out 4 plays the level can’t stop. Good for him. Bring the Championship to Toledo!
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,754
Pittsburgh, PA
Just catching up on this one...

Question for you (as well as others) - why would you want to read any of my posts? You have stated in the past that you "don't get me as a poster" and you routinely dunk on me personally rather than just my content. Do you need help with the ignore button? I don't feel the same way about you because your posts, which mostly amount to these angry screeds directed at other posters as well as political leaders (you and I are roughly in the same zipcode here) because its simply easier to scroll through.
Speaking for myself, I really enjoy your posts. But just like all of us, sometimes we step on it in a post. God knows I have. The people making jokes at your expense are, largely, doing it from a place of love. If they were sincerely pissed, it wouldn't be one-liners or a crafted whimsical rant, it'd be pointed criticism. So they're teasing - what better response than to just laugh at yourself too, and move on?
 

Patriot_Reign

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 21, 2011
1,150
checked out the twitch tonight for the first time, the audio of the game is muted, at least on my end. bunch of people spamming in the chat that they can't hear as well. went to subscribe but the only options are to use a pay service. is this a new model?
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
61,996
New York City
checked out the twitch tonight for the first time, the audio of the game is muted, at least on my end. bunch of people spamming in the chat that they can't hear as well. went to subscribe but the only options are to use a pay service. is this a new model?
No, it's not a new model. Although you should hear the sound. Must have been an error on Katz's side. But to use the chat, you have to subscribe.(this applies to only the most popular streams) That isn't new for Big Cat or Twitch.
 

Soxy

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2008
6,095
I'm not a Barstool guy or a Big Cat guy, but he doesn't really say anything of substance there. It's basically, "I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem." He doesn't directly address the videos in question beyond some vague allusions in the opening paragraph. It's just generic, "I promise to be better," type stuff.

He's completely tip-toeing around the elephant in the room, which is Portnoy. I'm sure that is intentional on his part, whatever the reasons, but he's not really addressing this in any meaningful way beyond vague promises.

In other words, if this isn't his way of saying: "Going forward I plan on calling out my shithead boss whenever he says a bunch of bullshit," then I'm not sure it really matters. Maybe that's actually what he is saying, and he just can't come out and say that.

We'll probably find out eventually, one way or another, but I'm not overly optimistic. If he felt comfortable calling out his boss, he probably would have done so in that piece he just wrote.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,726
Deep inside Muppet Labs
Big Cat's heart may be in the right place but at this point he's got so much equity tied into the Barstool brand that he doesn't seem like he wants to rock the boat too much. I would think his financial considerations play a part in how much he's actually going to change.

I think Barstool's issues would be infinitely less ornerous if Portnoy wasn't there. But of course a huge part of Barstool's brand is Portnoy himself, so therein lies the dilemma.

I fully believe that Big Cat would be wildly successful outside of Barstool, but the roots are too intertwined at this point for him to disentangle himself.
 

sodenj5

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Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
Big Cat's heart may be in the right place but at this point he's got so much equity tied into the Barstool brand that he doesn't seem like he wants to rock the boat too much. I would think his financial considerations play a part in how much he's actually going to change.

I think Barstool's issues would be infinitely less ornerous if Portnoy wasn't there. But of course a huge part of Barstool's brand is Portnoy himself, so therein lies the dilemma.

I fully believe that Big Cat would be wildly successful outside of Barstool, but the roots are too intertwined at this point for him to disentangle himself.
This is my exact thought. If the quarantine shut down has shown me anything, it’s the Big Cat is talented enough to do whatever he wants outside of Barstool on his own. The Cat Cave derby, the twitch streaming of a 6 year old XBox game, a wildly successful sports podcast when there is no sports.

I only listen to to PMT, and it’s 85% because Big Cat is hilarious and as a fellow 35 year old dude, it feels like listening to one of my funny friends talk for an hour.

It feels like he would like to separate himself from the Barstool brand at times, but as you said, he’s so intertwined that it’s difficult at times. I think that was ESPN’s original vision with the Barstool Van Talk, but they realized that Portnoy will never disappear into the background, he’ll always be front and center making some sort of headline that will ultimately reflect poorly on the company as a whole.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,460
here's the thing to me. Everyone always cites PMT and BigCat when people talk about how garbage and toxic Barstool is. The thing is... he knows Barstool is at it's core built on racism and misogyny and he has embraced the brand, and shilled for it like crazy. He's actively complicit because he goes out and promotes it. The entire point of him being there is so people who don't want to engage with the fact that they are supporting a bunch of racists can say... "oh I really only like BigCat, HE'S not a racist" as if that makes a difference. His entire job is to make money for the racists, and he profits alongside them. He actively chose to do so. He's had offers elsewhere, but he decided the PMT brand, and the money he was offerred was more important to him than not actively supporting some of the worst people in sports media.
 

Soxy

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2008
6,095
The thing that irked me is he's patting himself on the back for holding nobody but his own self accountable ("I've been on Kap's side since the beginning"), while tacitly admitting that he's only going to hold the people around him accountable "when I can."

In other words, "I'll be an ally when it's easy and convenient for me to do so. When it's not, I'll just hold my nose and look the other way, much the same way that I did during the videos in question."

It's a pretty weak statement that makes it seem like he's just fine with the status quo, thank you very much. Just keep cashing them checks.
 

Cotillion

New Member
Jun 11, 2019
4,926
Variation on a theme

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair
He knows it’s problematic but is not willing to give money up for what he knows is wrong. Which is fine for him to do. Just don’t pretend it isn’t what it is.
 

nattysez

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 30, 2010
8,432
I didn't listen to that whole podcast super-carefully, but my impression from listening to a sizable chunk is that the the group played the specific racist remarks Portnoy made, acknowledged that Portnoy says racist stuff knowing that it's racist (and in fact being told ahead of time that it is), and say that they will be more vocal about speaking out when he does it in the future.

If a POC is left to choose between (1) losing their job and getting de-platformed or (2) saying they'll use their platform to denounce their boss's racism, I have to defer to what they feel is right.

All of that said, using that acronym was hugely stupid for a multitude of reasons.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
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Dec 30, 2003
61,996
New York City
All of that said, using that acronym was hugely stupid for a multitude of reasons.
It does look dumb, but is it any different than Kanye dropping more than 40 n bombs in the song All Day? That is a serious question and I'm genuinely not sure of the answer.
 

sodenj5

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Jul 14, 2005
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I didn't listen to that whole podcast super-carefully, but my impression from listening to a sizable chunk is that the the group played the specific racist remarks Portnoy made, acknowledged that Portnoy says racist stuff knowing that it's racist (and in fact being told ahead of time that it is), and say that they will be more vocal about speaking out when he does it in the future.

If a POC is left to choose between (1) losing their job and getting de-platformed or (2) saying they'll use their platform to denounce their boss's racism, I have to defer to what they feel is right.

All of that said, using that acronym was hugely stupid for a multitude of reasons.
I can’t pretend to know what the struggle of black or other non-Caucasian ethnicities is like, but I imagine they’re torn between knowingly working for a racist and forfeiting what could be a big opportunity for them.

I won’t preach from my ivory tower, but I’ve quit a job on my second day because I felt they were dishonest with me and I wouldn’t work for a company that didn’t value me or share my views on honesty and integrity. I’ve quit a job after 3 months because, again, I felt they weren’t honest with me in the hiring process, and I wouldn’t stand for it.

I’m a white dude. I’m confident enough in my skills and my market where I could do that. I understand it’s different for minorities. That they might not have the luxury of simply leaving a job on principle.

Maybe, having said all of that, I should stop listening to PMT. As others have pointed out, while Big Cat and PFT may not be a part of the problem, they aren’t a part of the solution either, and they’re still feeding the machine.