Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has released his memoir, "Cancel Me If You Can," detailing his rise from a small Boston newspaper to a prominent online personality. Portnoy, who sold his company for $551 million and later bought it back for $1, described his motivations for writing the book as ego-driven, stemming from a desire to see his work in bookstores and potentially adapted into a film, with Bradley Cooper in mind to play him.
Feuds and Forgiveness
The memoir delves into Portnoy's numerous public feuds, including his long-standing conflict with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Portnoy stated that he believes a face-to-face meeting with Goodell could have resolved their differences. "If I had dinner with Goodell, which I tried to, we would probably have squashed [our beef]," he said. The book also details a particularly difficult period in 2021, which Portnoy described as "the lowest of my life," when Business Insider published allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Portnoy vehemently denied these claims, calling the report a "dishonest hit piece." A spokesperson for Business Insider stated, "We continue to stand by our reporting. Dave Portnoy sued Business Insider in federal court over these articles and lost."
Portnoy blames former "Call Her Daddy" co-host Sofia Franklyn for orchestrating the Business Insider story, alleging that Franklyn solicited accounts from women who had been intimate with him. Franklyn left Barstool amid a contract dispute and fallout with her co-host, Alex Cooper.
Internal Conflicts and Unlikely Unity
Another significant revelation in the book concerns the strained relationship between Portnoy and two of Barstool's most popular personalities, Dan "Big Cat" Katz and Eric "PFT Commenter" Sollenberger, co-hosts of "Pardon My Take." Portnoy explained that as their podcast grew in popularity, he felt they began to distance themselves and saw them as competition. Tensions were exacerbated by demands from their agent and differing sensibilities. The situation reached a critical point when Katz and Sollenberger signed with ESPN to host "Barstool Van Talk." The show was canceled by ESPN just six days after its premiere in October 2017, following internal employee backlash. Portnoy credits this shared adversity with ESPN's decision as a unifying force that ultimately strengthened his relationship with Katz and Sollenberger, realigning the "Barstool Universe."
The Barstool Genesis and Anti-Establishment Stance
Portnoy, who started Barstool Sports in 2003 with $30,000 in savings and a $20,000 loan from his father, initially printed a newspaper focused on betting. The publication's ethos, "written by the common man for the common man," resonated with a growing audience, particularly as Boston's sports teams achieved success. Portnoy expanded the brand beyond print to a blog, featuring irreverent commentary on sports and news. He characterized Barstool's enduring appeal as an "underdog versus the establishment" mentality, whether facing figures like Roger Goodell or broader cultural shifts. He stated, "we didn't really shift or bend. And we didn't have to. We just stayed true to ourselves."
Reflections on Politics and Personal Life
Portnoy, who interviewed then-President Donald Trump at the White House in 2020, has considered entering politics himself. He noted a shared trait with Trump in reacting strongly to perceived attacks, stating, "Like com-e at me with a feather, I hit you with a hammer." However, he expressed a desire for a more unifying leader for the country. He also discussed his personal life, including his amicable divorce from his ex-wife, Renee Portnoy, who he credits with helping him build his business and who still has access to his bank accounts. Portnoy stated they remain close friends.
Reflecting on his nearly two decades with Barstool, Portnoy expressed amazement at his journey and suggested a potential future movie adaptation of his life, potentially starring Bradley Cooper, but maintained that he is not planning to disappear from the public eye anytime soon.