Barstool Sports is known as a boat-rocker in the Internet sports media world. In this weird new world called “Cancel Culture,” Barstool has stood tall and remains ever-popular. They have their detractors, though, and Barstool is regularly accused of past publicly grandiose, misogyny, and racism. On last Thursday’s episode of the Token CEO podcast, Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini interviewed the NWHL Metropolitan Riveters players Kelly Babstock and Rebecca Russo. Because they were on a Barstool podcast, there was bound to be some pearl-clutching on social media.
What Happened?
The episode (entitled “Smile Through the Suck”) was an enlightening interview. Nardini talked to Babstock and Russo about what their lives are like inside the NWHL bubble (as the NWHL is playing a bubble season). It’s very clear from her Twitter handle and her podcast that Nardini is VERY pro women’s sports. I’m certain that she’d slice off her left arm to make sure all women’s sports leagues succeed. You might think people would be appreciative. However, because of her association with Barstool, she must be punished! Take it away, Cancel Culture Twitter!
remember when bаrstooI ran an article about a women’s hockey goaltender titled “is this goalie the hottest college athlete in america?”
— sie | NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE (@nowyousieme) January 26, 2021
that’s the audience erika nardini is promoting the nwhl to. she’s not growing the game. she’s enabling the men who do this shit.
And, for the record, wanting to own a team in the NWHL does not make Erika Nardini a bastion of equality. It makes her an owner. Time would tell if she is a good owner or Harold Ballard.
— Dr. Prof. Ahern (@ProfAhern) January 27, 2021
Barstool is trash.
— Anya Alvarez ??♀️ (@anya__alvarez) January 27, 2021
Erika Nardini is trash.
And I hope @usga never invites her to be part of any panel ever again as part of their #WomenWorthWatching campaign because, as I said, she’s trash
What she pulled on the NWHL this week is trash ? pic.twitter.com/zzfmPeKwJn
Nardini’s Response
On Monday, Nardini fired back at social media with a response from the Token CEO Twitter page from the following episode entitled “Honey Badger.”
Important message to the @EKANardini haters: pic.twitter.com/3qU0BqgggH
— Token CEO (@tokenCEO) January 26, 2021
She added additionally:
“If you want to grow a sport, you need more fans for the game. You need those fans to spend money on the game, and you need fans to root for people or hate against people and to feel engaged by the game. The issue with women’s hockey is the more insular people keep it, the more disparaging they are of new fans or new perspectives that don’t look exactly where women’s hockey came from, the worse off women’s hockey is going to be.”
Erika Nardini, Token CEO, “Honey Badger” (9:17-9:46)
In summation, Nardini is telling the NWHL that if they don’t want her support because of her affiliation with Barstool, they are not doing themselves any favors.
The NWHL Fires Back
In a Twitter thread the following day, NWHL commissioner Tyler Tumminia released this statement in response to Nardini’s video. The second to last Tweet was kind of curious:
“There is no circumstance where it would be acceptable to call out many of the reporters, staff members and fans who have given so much to women’s hockey, especially knowing that these people could be targeted or harassed on social media.”
— NWHL (@NWHL) January 26, 2021
I thought the video was harmless because people, especially journalists on Twitter, can be especially cruel and overly critical. The moment that the tables are turned, though, journalists act like rabidly hyperbolic raccoons. The fact that the NWHL wants to disavow anything to do with Nardini – who again, has been nothing but supportive of professional women’s sports – is foolish.
“The Only Bad Publicity is No Publicity” – Some Famous Person, Probably
So, who benefits from this weird battle? In her video response, Nardini went on to say that she wants to buy an NWHL franchise someday. (Shouldn’t women’s professional sports WANT woman-led ownership?) Meanwhile, the NWHL trying to play damage control in response to the pearl-clutching mob. It might turn out to be a good thing because more hockey fans – myself included – will tune in because of this kerfuffle. This publicity means both sides win. Do I like everything that Barstool does? No – and because I have the choice, I can visit other websites. There’s no need to get excited because you don’t like the content Barstool creates. That’s not a Barstool Sports problem, that’s a YOU problem.
In the meantime, I’ll check out some NWHL on Twitch while the “bubble” tournament goes on. I’ll even say in the chat that Erika Nardini sent me.
(Oh, and grow a thicker skin, Journalism Twitter.)
Please be sure to bookmark our hockey page for hockey coverage and follow Belly Up Hockey on Twitter: @BellyUpHockey. Follow me on Twitter for more takes on hockey and sports in general: @WhoIsRyanMcC. I also have a podcast: No Credentials Required (new episodes every Wednesday) and a live stream show, A-Round for the Weekend (most Fridays at 6:30pm).
