pat mcafee stand up tour

Hawkeye icon Dallas Clark and WWE star Roman Reigns set to guest on Pat McAfee Show

The stars will be out later this week in Iowa City as the University of Iowa women's basketball team begins its NCAA Tournament run.

ESPN personality and ex-NFL punter Pat McAfee and his radio crew will broadcast live in Iowa City from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, March 22. McAfee announced on X last week that he will host his daily sports talk show, "The Pat McAfee Show" from the University of Iowa's Field House.

Former All-American Hawkeye tight end Dallas Clark will join his former Indianapolis Colts teammate McAfee for Friday's show. Clark and McAfee were teammates for three seasons. Clark played at Iowa in 2001 and 2002, helping the Hawkeyes reach the 2003 Orange Bowl. The South Dakota native was drafted by the Colts in the first round of the NFL Draft a few months later, and eventually won a Super Bowl alongside Peyton Manning in 2007.

WWE superstar Roman Reigns will also join McAfee and Clark before WWE Friday Night Smackdown in Milwaukee later that night.

More: Why Iowa star Caitlin Clark is one of the most likable figures in sports

How to attend the McAfee Show

Friday's show will run in its normal time slot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors to the UI Field House will open at 8:30 a.m. and capacity is limited to the first 2,500 attendees.

No tickets are required or available for the standing-room-only event. Showgoers are being asked to enter through the southeast main doors which face nearby Slater and Rienow Residence Halls.

Friday's show will also be simulcast in its entirety on ESPNU, ESPN+ and the Pat McAfee Show's YouTube channel.

More: Everything to know about the Dubuque St. construction in downtown Iowa City

Pat McAfee enjoyed meteoric rise

McAfee's daily show, which was initially independently produced, exploded in popularity and now airs daily on ESPN and the ex-pro's YouTube channel for three hours every weekday afternoon.

McAfee said he hopes to catch Caitlin Clark and the Iowa women's basketball team play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which would be a brief walk from his Field House set.

"This is a cool moment (in women's athletics)," McAfee said. "We want to support women's March Madness as well because we watched last year — it is electrifying."

Reigns is a six-time WWE world champion and boasts the third-longest reign of all time and the longest in more than 35 years. Clark was named to one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro team during his nine-year NFL career.

More: Caitlin Clark, Iowa women's basketball set record TV ratings in run to Big Ten championship

Hawkeyes snag a No. 1 seed

The 29-4 Iowa women's basketball team will begin their March Madness run with high hopes, coming off a defeat to LSU in last year's National Championship game. They open tournament play Saturday against the winner of the First Four matchup between Holy Cross and UT Martin at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday night.

The Hawkeyes begin Round of 64 action on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be broadcast on ABC, one of just two women's first-round games on network TV this weekend.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

VIDEO: Colts' McAfee is doing stand-up comedy and he has a great Peyton story

Warning: this video contains explicit language

Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee has been one of the funniest NFL players to follow on Twitter for a while now so he's taking his show on the road.

McAfee has been traveling through Indiana this offseason on a stand-up comedy tour and even has his own special titled "Pat McAfee: Uncaged" available on iTunes.

The 28-year-old recorded the special at the Palladium in Carmel, Ind., in September and hosted "Pat McAfee presents A Ridiculous New Year's Eve" at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis.

His next show is May 20 in Fort Wayne, Ind., at the Embassy Theatre.

• Ramsey: I'm 'back to where I thrive' after Dolphins' DC change
• Lions forfeit OTA practice after violating player work rules
• Chiefs' Thompson awake, responsive after cardiac arrest
• Gregory sues NFL, Broncos over $500K in fines for THC use
• Xavien Howard accused of sending teen explicit photo over abortion quarrel

Daily Newsletter

More stories.

The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN Platforms Launches Sept. 7, Part of ESPN’s Personality-Packed Programming Lineup

ESPN to feature six-hour block of Get Up , First Take and The Pat McAfee Show weekdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET

The Pat McAfee Show , the highly successful and innovative weekday sports talk and discussion program, launches on ESPN platforms on Thursday, Sept. 7 – the same day the 2023 NFL season kicks off, as part of ESPN’s robust weekday studio lineup. Led by Pat McAfee – former NFL player and one of the most successful voices in sports media, the show will be simulcast from noon – 2 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN on YouTube and ESPN+, with the final 2-3 p.m. hour airing on ESPN on YouTube and ESPN+.

The Pat McAfee Show joins ESPN’s well-established personality-packed weekday lineup featuring the leading pundits in the industry. Mike Greenberg kicks off each morning hosting Get Up at 8 a.m., followed by First Take featuring Stephen A. Smith from 10 a.m. to noon. After The Pat McAfee Show , SportsCenter returns for the 2 p.m. time slot with NBA Today at 3 p.m., then NFL Live from 4-5 p.m., Around the Horn airing at 5 p.m., and Pardon the Interruption at 5:30 p.m. The 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter wraps up the daily lineup , Monday through Friday.

“We can’t wait for Pat and his team to bring a fresh new energy to ESPN’s weekday lineup, led by some of the most prominent, creative and authentic voices in sports,” says Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN. “ The Pat McAfee Show  will redefine what success looks like across multiple ESPN platforms and will bring a new, contemporary audience to our afternoon time block. It’s a perfect fit.”

Announced earlier this year, ESPN’s licensing of  The Pat McAfee Show will lead to an expansion of McAfee’s current multiplatform role , while McAfee continues his college football analyst role  on ESPN’s  College GameDay Built by The Home Depot and hosting alternate presentations of ESPN college football telecasts.

In addition to McAfee himself, The Pat McAfee Show features former NFL linebacker and co-host A.J. Hawk, Evan Fox, Zito Perez, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, Tone Digs, Frank Maraldo, Phil Mains, Casey Tok, Matt Brown, Michael Girdy, AQ Shipley, Bailey McComas, Mitt McMahon, Coach Chuck Pagano, Aaron Rodgers, Darius Butler and Adam Jones, among others.

The debut episode on Sept. 7 will air live from the show’s ThunderDome headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., while select fall Friday shows will be hosted from College GameDay sites, with locations to be announced each week. The crew’s opening weekend also includes Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show, a college football alternate telecast live from the Texas/Alabama Week 2 showdown (7 p.m., ESPN). The weekend wraps up with Aaron Rodgers – a recurrent guest on The Pat McAfee Show, making his New York Jets debut during ESPN’s  Monday Night Football  (8:15 p.m., ESPN).

Additional details, including regular guests, will be announced in the coming weeks.

ESPN Weekday Lineup

About Pat McAfee A college football All-American at West Virginia and All-Pro NFL punter with the Indianapolis Colts, McAfee has established himself as one of the most entertaining figures in sports media since retiring from football. In addition to hosting  The Pat McAfee Show , McAfee has worked for a variety of media companies in various roles, spanning Wrestlemania to ESPN.

McAfee was selected by the Colts in the 2009 NFL Draft following his college career at West Virginia as a kicker and punter. A four-year starter (2005-08), McAfee finished with 384 points and accumulated more than 5,500 punting yards for the Mountaineers. He was named an All-American his senior year and finished his collegiate career as the all-time scoring leader at WVU. During his nine NFL seasons, McAfee was one of the league’s best punters. He was named an All-Pro (2014), a Pro Bowler (2014, 2016) and nominated for the NFL Hall of Fame (2022). A native of Plum, Pa., outside Pittsburgh, McAfee retired after the 2016 NFL season.

Julie McKay

• Skip to Navigation
• Skip to Main Content
• Skip to Related Content
• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

• Yahoo Sports AM
• College Sports
• Fantasy Sports
• Horse Racing
• 2024 Schedule
• Scores/Schedule
• Fantasy Football
• Free Agency
• Mavs need more from Kyrie
• Latest on Juan Soto injury
• Full fantasy football rankings
• New Tyson-Paul date announced
• MLBPA takes aim at Bad Bunny

Who is Pat McAfee and how did his show become a sounding board for Aaron Rodgers?

Aaron Rodgers has built quite the connection over the last few years with the Pat McAfee Show, which airs live on YouTube weekday afternoons, so it should come as no surprise that Rodgers conveyed he'd like to play for the New York Jets next year while making a much-anticipated appearance on the platform.

Rodgers began appearing regularly on the show via video from his home during the 2020 season, creating a standing Tuesday appointment where Rodgers could riff with his good friend McAfee and Rodgers' former Packers teammate A.J. Hawk, the often-deadpan co-host providing a foil to McAfee's animated personality.

How did Pat McAfee rise to this level of fame?

McAfee, a former Pro Bowl punter for the Indianapolis Colts, played in the NFL through the 2016 season but has found a remarkable second act as an exuberant sports-media personality, serving as a studio host and making appearances at professional wrestling events. He can be found on ESPN's College Gameday during the college-football season, including on alternate broadcasts during high-profile games last season.

But the Rodgers appearances have been perhaps the chief element turning his show into a phenomenon. McAfee sits in the second year of a four-year deal worth $120 million with FanDuel for show sponsorship ( though he could perhaps walk away from that deal soon, potentially with an eye on a more lucrative deal with a network ). McAfee has previously left deals early with Barstool, DAZN and Westwood One and elected not to renew with SiriusXM last year.

More: Here's how social media reacted to Aaron Rodgers' interview on 'The Pat McAfee Show'

How did Aaron Rodgers and Pat McAfee become such good friends?

Rodgers said in 2022 on the Monday Night Football "ManningCast" that his relationship with McAfee began over golf. Rodgers said that Hawk suggested McAfee as an emergency fill-in for a golf tournament team, and McAfee agreed to do it even while in the midst of a stand-up comedy tour.

Legendary story of how @PatMcAfeeShow and @AaronRodgers12 became friends. 📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/PlIqjGnQUx — NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2022

“I had never met him,” Rodgers said. “I introduced myself and said, ‘Hey, when I introduce you tonight at the welcome dinner, do you mind doing a couple minutes of standup?’ He goes, ‘No, I’m not doing that.’ … So I’m introducing my team and I say former punter and All-Pro Pat McAfee is here. Pat walks up on stage, takes the mic out of my hand and does 10 minutes of standup. I knew from that point forward he was going to be a great friend.”

Clearly with a comfortable relationship, Rodgers has used the show as a sounding board for a number of topics, some light-hearted and some controversial.

Darkness retreat, COVID-19, Jeopardy, ayahuasca and more things Rodgers has discussed on the Pat McAfee Show

In February, he discussed his upcoming "darkness retreat," spending five days and four nights in an isolated sensory-deprivation experience.

In January, he said he was embracing the 'villain' role and complained about woke culture. He's also talked about his trust in "applied medicine."

In December of 2022, he was critical of a media report about his usage of hand signals , and he also discussed the benefits he's perceived from using the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca.

In November of last year, after a 15-9 loss to Lions, he reminded the world, "I'm still the reigning, defending two-time MVP."

In October, he expounded on what he meant by saying the Packers needed to simplify the offense .

In September, he (somewhat) revealed what he saw on the Jumbotron in Tampa Bay, addressing the possibility that a live shot inside the stadium enabled him to prepare his defense for a game-saving play.

In April of 2022 he talked about his involvement on Packers draft day , an oft-discussed topic after the Packers famously drafted quarterback Jordan Love in 2020, catching Rodgers by surprise.

In February of 2022 with his status for the upcoming year in doubt, Packers fans tuned in to learn about his playing status and ultimately learned more about Panchakarma , a 12-day cleanse meant to clear the body of unwanted waste. He also discussed his future in December of 2021 .

In November of 2021, in the aftermath of testing positive for COVID-19 and the revelation that he had been misleading about his vaccination status, Rodgers lashed out at the NFL's health and safety policies . In December, he joined the program wearing a sweatshirt that said "cancel culture."

He also spent time talking about his mysterious toe injury in November of 2021, putting to rest rumors that it had been a symptom of contracting COVID-19.

In January of 2021, Rodgers announced on the McAfee show that he would be a guest host on popular game show Jeopardy!. In April of 2021, he discussed the enjoyment he got out of his time as temporary Jeopardy! host , part of the conversation about whether Rodgers would opt to retire from football for the chance to assume the gig full time.

His appearances have been so regular that he's given a number of book recommendations , leading to the Aaron Rodgers Book Club, one that helped raise money for charity .

More: Social media has a field day with Aaron Rodgers telling ESPN's Adam Schefter to 'lose my number,' in text exchange

Podcast: Aaron Rodgers to leave for Jets. What does this mean for Green Bay Packers, Jordan Love?

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal .

DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How did Pat McAfee and Aaron Rodgers become good friends?

Pat McAfee making Indiana comedy tour

For the past seven NFL seasons, Pat McAfee has been a leader, and source of constant entertainment, as punter for the Indianapolis Colts.

But off the field, he's making audiences across Indiana laugh during his stand-up comedy shows.

On Feb. 12, McAfee will take the stage at 8 p.m. at Muncie's Emens Auditorium, during a stop on his upcoming 'The I-69 Tour.'

Doyel: The evolution of Pat McAfee continues

He will  perform in Evansville on Feb. 10, Wabash on Feb. 11 and Bloomington on Feb. 13.

Reserved seat tickets cost $35 and go on sale at 10 a.m.  Jan. 15 at livenation.com.

They will also be available for purchase at the Emens box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

In September, the Pro Bowl athlete performed during his two-night, stand-up comedy event, "Uncaged," at the Palladium in Carmel, and recently hosted "Pat McAfee presents A Ridiculous New Year's Eve" at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis.

Backstage with Pat McAfee: Gregg Doyel's all-access pass

• Premier League

Pat McAfee reveals BRUTAL injury from 'The Soccer Tournament' and says he was 'unable to stand up from the toilet' in hilarious statement

• READ MORE:  Sergio Aguero scores in 7-on-7 tournament after retiring in 2021
• READ MORE: Pat McAfee and JJ Watt take to the soccer field in North Carolina

By Leocciano Callao

Published: 18:46 EDT, 7 June 2024 | Updated: 18:57 EDT, 7 June 2024

View comments

Pat McAfee hilariously announced that he strained his hip flexor and will miss his team's first Round of 32 game at The Soccer Tournament in Cary, North Carolina .

The injury came after he skied a free kick attempt against JJ Watt's Burnley team in the $ 1million 7-on-7 competition on Thursday night.

On Friday, hours before their 9pm game, McAfee announced his absence in the manner that reporters tweet out breaking news .

'BREAKING: Source(s) close to the situation are saying that Pat McAfee will be OUT tonight for CONCAFA SC's Win or Go Home game at 9PM as he is dealing with a Hip Flexer Strain/Full f*****g tear that happened midstroke of his free kick against @JJWatt's Burnley FC team that missed the net by 40-50 yards,' McAfee wrote.

'The source would go on to say 'Pat was unable to stand up from the toilet this morning without some rather excruciating pain,'' he continued. 'He also had a very pronounced limp while heading into brunch with the boys this morning.'

Pat McAfee hilariously said he tore his hip flexor and will miss his team's 7-on-7 game on Friday 

McAfee announced the news in the same manner reporters tweet out breaking stories 

Sergio Aguero scores on his return for Manchester City in 7-on-7 tournament

While pretending to be his own source, McAfee added a quote from himself to keep the journalism bit going. 

'This is what 37 years old looks like for a guy who hasn't run in a few decades' was the closing comment… I will keep yinz updated with any more news that I hear.'

The ESPN host closed the post with #Journalism and attached a breaking news animation.

McAfee's team, the CONCAFA SC, finished second in Group B with a 2-1 record, 11 goals scored, and six goals conceded.

The Reggae Rovers went undefeated on top of the group as Nati SC and Burnley went third and fourth, respectively.

McAfee's team, CONCAFA SC, finished second in Group B with a 2-1 record and 11 goals 

McAfee forgot what sport he's playing for a second as he blazes what would have been a perfect Field Goal over the crossbar 😂 @ConcafaSC still lead @BurnleyOfficial 1-0 pic.twitter.com/t6M9xVyJ7B — TST (@TST7v7) June 6, 2024

The ESPN host claimed he was was 'unable to stand up from the toilet' on Friday morning 

McAfee's side lost their opening match, 4-1, against the group leaders. However, they made up for the loss with a 6-1 win over Nati and a 4-1 victory over Watt and Burley.

While he is yet to find the back of the net, McAfee tallied an assist in their win over Nati.

CONAFCA will kick off against Supra United at 9pm on Friday in a Round of 32 knockout game.

Share or comment on this article: Pat McAfee reveals BRUTAL injury from 'The Soccer Tournament' and says he was 'unable to stand up from the toilet' in hilarious statement

• Add comment

SPORTS Digest

MORE SPORTS STARS

• Follow DailyMail
• Subscribe Daily Mail
• Follow @dailymail
• Follow MailOnline
• Follow Daily Mail

Get the Other Sports RSS feed

• Today's headlines

• MORE HEADLINES
• New Scottie Scheffler arrest photos show injuries suffered by police officer along with his infamous 'damaged beyond repair' pants - and fans are not impressed
• Lionel Messi admits he and wife Antonela Roccuzzo 'don't go out much' in Miami and prefer to stay in at $11m Florida mansion
• David Beckham 'settles $19m lawsuit with Mark Wahlberg's F45 fitness company' after claiming breach of contract left him $11m out of pocket
• Caitlin Clark IS being targeted by WNBA players, insists long-time college coach after Indiana Fever star's brutal treatment by Chennedy Carter
• Olivia Dunne and Travis Kelce pose together on set of their Accelerator Energy shoot as social media star posts behind the scenes footage
• Travis Kelce returns to Chiefs practice as girlfriend Taylor Swift plays a huge sold out show in Scotland on the latest stop of her Eras Tour
• New date for Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul is announced after controversial fight originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed
• Chiefs return to practice as BJ Thompson recovers in hospital after cardiac arrest with Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes working out
• Olivia Dunne shares Taylor Swift Travis Kelce TikTok after starring alongside the Chiefs Super Bowl winner in energy drink commercial
• Caitlin Clark says WNBA coverage STINKS as she returns to the court after Chennedy Carter row
• Chiefs' BJ Thompson is 'awake and responsive' after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest
• WNBA star tells fans to 'go watch golf' if they're uncomfortable with league's physicality amid controversy over Caitlin Clark bodycheck
• Harrison Butker helped save BJ Thompson, Chiefs coach reveals after his teammate went into cardiac arrest and had a seizure in a team meeting
• Caitlin Clark sends Chennedy Carter a message as she speaks out on THAT bodycheck in last week's WNBA game
• Caitlin Clark drops an astounding 30 points in close 85-83 victory over the Washington Mystics
• England 0-1 Iceland RECAP: Score, news and updates as dismal Three Lions suffer shock defeat in final match ahead of Euro 2024
• NFL star Xavien Howard 'sent revenge porn photos and videos to his victim's own SON because she refused to have an abortion,' lawsuit claims
• Awkward moment TV reporter thinks she's interviewing former NFL star... only for him to tell her he's not!
• How Gareth Southgate broke up England's 'Avengers': Axeing Jack Grealish and James Maddison means WhatsApp group clique are out of the Euros - and could holiday together instead!
• Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze's release clause is revealed with top Premier League teams circling - and the club face a huge fight to keep him if he excels for England at the Euros
• MOST READ IN DETAIL
• Back to top

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

• Burnley News

Pat McAfee reveals BRUTAL injury from 'The Soccer Tournament' and says he was 'unable to stand up from the toilet' in hilarious statement

07 june 2024 22:57.

Source: DailyMail

Trending on the forum

• Navigation  

Football News

• Premier League News
• FA Cup News
• League Cup News
• Champions League News
• Europa League News
• Scottish Premiership News
• International Football News
• Football League News
• Championship News
• League One News
• League Two News
• Scottish League News
• Scottish Championship News
• Scottish League 1
• Scottish League 2
• Other Sports News
• Live Scores
• Football Kits
• Football Videos
• Football Writers
• PFA Fans Player of the month
• Football Widgets
• Football Teams

Advertisement

Pat mcafee congratulates notre dame lacrosse for repeat championship, share this article.

Notre Dame men’s lacrosse earned their s econd-straight national championship that culminated Monday with a 15-5 a domination of Maryland in the national championship game.

Despite falling behind 2-0 early, Notre Dame quickly bounced back and made things rather uninteresting shortly after.  The win was expected entering the tournament after Notre Dame lost just one game all year.  They avenged that loss in the national quarterfinals when they beat Georgetown which led to their blowout victories over Denver and Maryland.

Former Indianapolis Colts punter and current national talk show host Pat McAfee has been a supporter of the Notre Dame lacrosse program for the last year or so when he learned of the Kavanagh brothers.  He took a moment on Tuesday to look back to his visit with the team last fall which included a great one-liner from Notre Dame head coach Kevin Corrigan.

Check out the video below.

BACK-2-BACK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR NOTRE DAME LACROSSE 👏 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/lARr9aMmWJ — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 28, 2024

Pat McAfee has done many things (NFL player, WWE performer, College Gameday host, husband, and father, and more) but we don’t think star lacrosse player will be added to that list anytime soon.

Regardless, some national love from a major player in sports media for a team that certainly earned it over the past two years.

Marcus Freeman celebrates Notre Dame lacrosse's national championship

Jesse simonton's post-spring/portal college football top 25 for 2024, tyler buchner's insane 18 months between notre dame and alabama, most popular, college football preseason rankings from athlon sports, notre dame’s top 2025 commit will take a visit to alabama this weekend, notre dame quarterback riley leonard health update, notre dame football's future schedules and opponents, key notre dame target lands ohio state offer, best photos of notre dame's lacrosse championship win over maryland, the worst seasons in notre dame football history.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

Pat McAfee used foul language while discussing Caitlin Clark

• By Terry Shropshire
• Jun 03, 2024

ESPN’s uber-popular show host Pat McAfee has apologized after he used a derogatory term to discuss Caitlin Clark , the WNBA phenomenon who has become a lightning rod for controversy and toxic conversation on social media.

While pacing — unlike his normal routine of standing behind his desk to speak — McAfee was in the process of defending and complimenting Clark as the white juggernaut who’s revitalizing the WNBA. However, McAfee’s soliloquy went left when he blurted out the phrase, “white b—” while exalting her for her accomplishments.

“I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class [is responsible for the WNBA growth] …” McAfee said on Monday, June 3, 2024. “Nah, just call it for what it is: there’s one white b— for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”

McAfee continued defending and supporting Clark, saying: “Is there a chance that people just enjoy watching her play basketball because of how electrifying she is, what she did, what she stood for, how she went about going what she went for? Maybe,” McAfee added. “But instead, we have to hear people say that we all like her ’cause she’s white and she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing.”

While it is clear McAfee was praising Clark for her record-breaking collegiate accomplishments at Iowa, the fact that he used that derogatory phrase to compliment Clark rankled his bosses at ESPN.

McAfee was later notified about his faux pas. After the show aired, McAfee apologized to Clark and the public for his choice of words.

“No matter the context, even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening, I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe,” McAfee said, according to TMZ. 

“My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100 percent on me and for that I apologize.”

Pat McAfee’s blunder sparks backlash

McAfee’s words have ricocheted throughout cyberspace and incited yet another round of impassioned — and often adversarial and race-tinged — debate surrounding Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA.

“I’m looking at guys like Charles Barkley, LeBron James, Stephen A., Shannon Sharpe. Why do I point out those four guys? You have to be careful about the words you put out there…Pat McAfee, I think he owes everyone an apology, especially Caitlin Clark.” pic.twitter.com/zDoyNNzCGy — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for Rolling Out news straight to your inbox.

• Caitlin Clark , ESPN , gender , pat mcafee , race , the pat mcafee show , wnba , women's basketball

The Atlanta Dream start Commissioner’s Cup with back-to-back losses

Congressman demands punishment for Chennedy Carter’s push on Caitlin Clark

A’ja Wilson puts up historic WNBA stats, despite a bloody nose

Angel Reese ejected during Chicago Sky loss to New York Liberty

A’Ja Wilson is Western Conference Player of the Month; Caitlin Clark honored

Stephen A. Smith rages about Monica McNutt saying ‘First Take’ failed WNBA

• More in Sports

How Kendra Bulluck-Major revived the historic Orange Blossom Classic

• Community News
• Justice For All
• All Entertainment
• Reality Check
• All Culture
• Relationships
• Cocktail & Beer
• Creative Lens
• All Business
• Black Intellectuals
• Diversity Equity & Focus
• Sisters with Superpowers
• Home Ownership & Real Estate
• Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders
• Executive Suite
• Finance & Wealth
• Marketing & Branding
• Be the Match Atlanta
• Food & Nutrition
• HBCU Culture
• Privacy Policy

Change Location

Find awesome listings near you.

Has Caitlin Clark become a proxy for something more than basketball?

After a weekend of having the most overanalyzed flagrant foul in WNBA history force-fed down my social media timeline, I woke Monday to learn the feeding was far from over. Good Morning America and other Disney-owned shows devoted entire segments to Chennedy Carter ’s hip check of Caitlin Clark , as if there had never been a flagrant foul in the league’s history.

Advertisement

Later Monday, the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board used its institutional voice to declare that the foul “would have been seen as an assault” had it happened outside of a sporting event.

Can we calm down and take a breath? It was a hip check; repeat … a hip check ! Did Carter bump her from the side when Clark was looking away and waiting on an inbound pass? Yes. Did Clark embellish her fall to the ground? Appeared that way. Did it deserve a flagrant designation? Absolutely. But the pearl-clutching that has followed is as exhausting as it is nauseating.

Did The Tribune editorial board do a think piece when the Sky rookie Angel Reese was slammed to the court and Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun was ejected? Why not? But a hip check deserves commentary and is likened to a crime in a city that has had more than enough problems with street violence? Make it make sense.

Had I not watched in real time, I would have thought that Carter took out Clark’s feet while Clark was in the air. Or that she hit her in the head from behind. Or that she sought to end Clark’s career in some predatory fashion. A hip check might have been the last thing I expected to evoke such over-the-top reactions.

The WNBA confirmed that Chennedy Carter’s foul on Caitlin Clark from yesterday’s game has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1, per @alexaphilippou . pic.twitter.com/o7QzaFRkL5 — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 2, 2024

Then again, we’re talking Caitlin Clark . Truth is, the focus on her has always been about more than basketball. It passed that mile marker a long time ago, some of which I wrote about earlier this year. Clark has become a proxy in discussions/arguments about race, culture, privilege and entitlement, with people who don’t even spell her name correctly telling us what other players feel about her or how she should be treated.

The Caitlin Clark Effect and the uncomfortable truth behind it

Discussions about whether she can live up to expectations often devolve into areas that have nothing to do with basketball, with people using her as a symbol to support whatever non-basketball narrative they believe in. Her name has been weaponized, in a sense.

On Monday morning, ESPN’s Pat McAfee did an entire segment on Clark and her importance to the WNBA. He pointed out that four of the league’s highest-rated games this year have featured Clark, and that her Indiana Fever are averaging more viewers on average than other teams with high-profile rookies. Then he chided the media:

“I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class’ — nah, just call it for what it is,” he said. “There’s one White b—- for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”

Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign up

First things first, Clark is not a superstar in terms of performance as a professional. Not yet, at least. She is a national draw, no question, but her play has yet to catch up to her appeal — which is not to say it won’t, but it’s not there yet.

By referring to her as a “white b—-,” McAfee, like so many others, took the focus away from where it belongs, which is on the court. He did, however, apologize later in the afternoon.

“I shouldn’t have used ‘white b—-’ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark, no matter the context … even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening,” he posted on social media. “I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe. My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well. Everything else I said… still alllllll facts. #Journalism #WNBAProgrum #SheIsTheOne”

Here’s the problem beyond his word choice: McAfee was wrong when he argued that Clark needs to be protected as a “cash cow” who is bringing eyeballs to the league. It’s a misguided belief that has been spewed by others, including LeBron James. As a former professional athlete, McAfee should know how foolish he sounds. Game respects game. There is no “take it easy” between the boundaries. You earn your keep.

Interestingly, the loudest voices calling for a double standard have come from men, which should be insulting to Clark and every other woman. It’s as if these men are saying that Clark isn’t strong enough to stand for herself. If she isn’t, she should move on like any other player in that situation would do. To treat her any other way is disrespectful to not only the true stars of the game but also the game of basketball itself.

I’ve watched nearly every Fever game, and while I don’t consider myself a basketball savant, or anything remotely close to that, some things are obvious. She has to get stronger. She’s thinking and reacting more than she is flowing organically. The Fever lack chemistry, perhaps from so little practice time together. And opponents are going hard at her. But why would that come as a surprise to anyone? When you’re the No. 1 pick in the draft who is being presented as the face of the league before ever playing a game, opponents are going to test you. It’s done in every sport, regardless of gender, regardless of race.

There have been glimpses of “dawg” in Clark, going back to college. From waving off a South Carolina shooter from 3-point range, as if to say the player wasn’t worth guarding, to doing the “you can’t see me” hand gesture. Even Saturday against the Chicago Sky, she elbowed (inadvertently?) Carter and said something to her on the possession before Carter hip-checked her.

Carter was wrong to respond the way that she did, a point coach Teresa Witherspoon acknowledged Monday morning in a statement released to the media. But things sometimes get out of hand during competition, regardless of gender, regardless of race. I was going to ask that we not make it more than that, but then I realized how foolish I’d sound.

(Photo: Evan Yu / NBAE via Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Jim Trotter is a national columnist for The Athletic based in San Diego. He previously worked for NFL Media, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and The San Diego Union-Tribune. A proud graduate of Howard University, he is a Pro Football Hall of Fame voter and a former president of Pro Football Writers of America. He has authored two books, including “Junior Seau: The Life and Death of a Football Icon,” and is a regular fill-in guest host on “Brother From Another” on Peacock TV. Follow Jim on Twitter @ JimTrotter_NFL