The NFL has stumbled through a challenging 2020 season.
The specter of the Wuhan virus has damaged the league in more ways than one.
Now the commissioner got hit with one big ultimatum from a Tucker Carlson ally.
Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy is one of the dwindling members of sports media who hasn’t caved to the “woke” tyrants.
Portnoy routinely appears on Fox News with Tucker Carlson to discuss the rise of obnoxious social justice propaganda.
Portnoy’s hardline stance against wokeism has made him persona non grata among some members of the sports world.
One person who isn’t particularly fond of Portnoy is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Goodell steered the league toward embracing progressive politics, so it’s no surprise that he’s not a fan of Portnoy.
During the run-up to the NFL draft, the league held an auction for one fan to watch the draft at Goodell’s house.
Portnoy won the auction with a bid of $250,000 that was earmarked to go toward frontline COVID workers, but Goodell rejected his donation.
Now Portnoy is raising the stakes by challenging Goodell to chip in for a fund going to struggling small businesses.
Hey @nflcommish remember that 250k donation you refused to take from me for frontline covid workers? I still have it. If you donate 250k to #barstoolfund to save small business I’ll match it. Quick 500k. Let’s go.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 23, 2020
While pro-lockdown officials are pushing for even harsher lockdowns, many public figures like Portnoy are fighting for struggling workers in various sectors of the economy.
Too many officials are in no hurry to end the burdensome lockdowns that have crushed so many businesses and led to increased deaths of despair and other negative health outcomes.
Perhaps the reason why is because these officials promoting lockdowns are brazenly ignoring their own COVID restrictions.
Most people do not have the luxury to sit in their basement and live off the government dole indefinitely.
Small business owners are burning through their life savings in order to stay afloat, and they’re threatened with heavy fines and revocation of licensure for not abiding by the draconian edicts.
Portnoy has made it a point to help struggling bars and restaurants, which operate on thin margins as it is.
The ball is in Goodell’s court now.
His pettiness caused him to renege on his deal to host the winner of the NFL draft auction.
Running from Portnoy again would be another bad look for a league that’s trying to wheedle fans into coming back.
