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Report Reveals Why Pat McAfee Doesn't Talk About Caitlin Clark On ESPN
By Max Escarpio,
3 hours ago
In a recent simulcast of "The Pat McAfee Show" and "The Rich Eisen Show," the two hosts briefly discussed WNBA rookie sensation Caitlin Clark.
While both McAfee and Eisen mentioned they were supporters of the Indiana Fever guard, McAfee said that the "universe" told him not to discuss Clark during his ESPN segments anymore.
In his ESPN segment in June, McAfee was explaining why Clark was the reason behind the rising popularity of the WNBA.
"There's one white b**** for the Indiana team, who is a superstar," McAfee said, adding that Clark carried an entire state on her back, took a team "from nothing to a multiple-year success story" and broke records in the WNBA.
While the ESPN host was praising Clark's positive influence on the league, his choice of words did not sit well with many people and caused him to face tremendous backlash.
McAfee has since apologized for the incident, but his WNBA coverage went quiet from that point.
"Well, the universe told me not to talk about her," McAfee told Eisen in their August 21 simulcast. "God came in and was like, 'You know what, pal? Probably go ahead and stop it.'"
Many, including online sports media company Awful Announcing, believed that by "universe" and "God," McAfee meant the network's management and executives.
"Pat McAfee appears to confirm that ESPN told him to stop talking about Caitlin Clark," the outlet tweeted.
Awful Announcing’s updated report mentions that ESPN did not actually put a halt to McAfee’s Caitlin Clark commentary. Instead, it was McAfee himself who made the decision based on his own actions and mishaps.
"McAfee wasn't directed by anyone at ESPN regarding future coverage of Caitlin Clark but that the host was merely offering his own personal reflection," the source told AA.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark
Grace Smith&solIndyStar &sol USA TODAY NETWORK
Meanwhile, in the same McAfee-Eisen simulcast, McAfee shared his take on his previous actions and thoughts on the WNBA star.
"We were big supporters," McAfee said. "I think what she has done, obviously, remarkable. Now, it's the whole rookie class yada, yada, yada, we get it. United States Olympic team, not even getting into it. But, nonetheless, I am dumb, and the way I speak, not good."
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