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Longtime ESPN host Michael Wilbon drew the ire of right-leaning sports media figures for his criticism of former Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl.
On Monday, Pearl announced his retirement from coaching, effective immediately. Taking the helm of the program will be his son, Steven Pearl. In a video announcing retirement, Pearl addressed speculation that he was eyeing a potential pivot to politics. While he admitted it was a consideration, he instead chose to remain at Auburn in a non-coaching capacity.
Not long after the news broke, Wilbon and co-host Tony Kornheiser reacted to it on Pardon The Interruption. Wilbon made it clear he was glad to see Pearl go, citing the coach’s “divisive” political views. In recent years, Pearl has become increasingly open in sharing his opinions on social media.
“Tony, he had become a divisive person, it seems to me intentionally,” Wilbon said to his co-host, “and I hope there was pressure to just get him out.”
Kornheiser was stunned by the comment, prompting him to blurt out, “Really?”
That comment rubbed more than a few pundits the wrong way. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, for example, called them “idiotic.”
OutKick founder Clay Travis called Wilbon’s comments “disappointing” and argued that Pearl was only divisive “if you’re a free Palestine nut job.”
Others shared those sentiments.
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The post Right-Leaning Sports Pundits Up in Arms Over ESPN’s Michael Wilbon Celebrating Retirement of ‘Divisive’ Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl first appeared on Mediaite.
