Last Friday, sports fans were shocked to find out that Jeff Van Gundy was let go by ESPN. He was the network’s top color commentator for NBA games.
On this past Tuesday’s edition of Mad Dog Daily Bite, Chris Russo offered his thoughts on ESPN’s layoffs.
Like many others, Russo couldn’t believe that Van Gundy was laid off.
“Let me put it this way, I can’t fathom the idea that ESPN in these layoffs…would fire Jeff Van Gundy,” Russo said. “You’re not going to convince me that ESPN (and Disney boss Bob Iger) woke up in the last two weeks, looked at the budget sheet, and said, ‘We gotta fire Van Gundy because we gotta save some money.’”
Russo then floated out a reckless conspiracy theory regarding Van Gundy’s situation.
“That leads me to the conclusion that someone in the league office must’ve told ESPN, ‘I want Van Gundy out.’ We all know he’s biting. We all know he gets on the officials. We all know he doesn’t hold back with his NBA opinions. He tells you what he thinks, which is what a great broadcaster is supposed to do anyways,” Russo continued. “What is going on right now in the negotiation scenario? ESPN and NBC and TNT, what are they doing? They’re all negotiating with [commsioner Adam] Silver and the NBA.”
Some NBA fans support Russo’s theory that Adam Silver pushed Van Gundy out the door.
Incredibly irresponsible of ESPN to allow an employee to say this about a league president. https://t.co/sphLW2lWim
— With EVERYBODY sayin' – "C. J. Writes" – YEAH! (@CJWritesNThangs) July 5, 2023
“Stern stepped in to prevent ESPN from hiring a great many people, and it would make sense considering Van Gundy’s history of calling them out on broadcast. With the Saudi deals incoming. Slotting in Doc into that slot would make a ton of sense,” one person said.
Stern stepped in to prevent ESPN from hiring a great many people, and it would make sense considering Van Gundy's history of calling them out on broadcast. With the Saudi deals incoming. Slotting in Doc into that slot would make a ton of sense. https://t.co/I1VVCntWBH
— Ken Foss (@KenTFoss) July 5, 2023
Another person tweeted, “It’s not that difficult to believe.”
It’s not that difficult to believe https://t.co/qm0gGKP6ss
— El Plethora (@ELPlethora) July 5, 2023
This isn’t a great look for ESPN considering Russo contributes to First Take every week.
Do you think Russo will retract his recent comments about the NBA?
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