• Dave Portnoy is unhappy with Barstool talent, specifically Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show due to ESPN's involvement.
• Portnoy's issues stem from Barstool's previous negative experience with ESPN, including the cancellation of 'Barstool Van Talk'.
• Portnoy hints at reasons for his discontent that he can't publicly disclose but suggests it involves ESPN's practices or policies.

Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has expressed concerns about his talent appearing on The Pat McAfee Show now that it's affiliated with ESPN. This stems from a history of conflict between Barstool and ESPN, most notably the cancellation of 'Barstool Van Talk' after just one episode. Portnoy suggests that there are undisclosed reasons for his disapproval related to ESPN, and he is unwilling to discuss them publicly.

• What: Dave Portnoy expressed his displeasure with Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette appearing frequently on 'The Pat McAfee Show' due to its ESPN affiliation.
• Who: Dave Portnoy, Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, Pat McAfee, ESPN, John Skipper, Sam Ponder.
• When: The discussion occurred on Wednesday's episode of 'The Unnamed Show', with historical context dating back to 2017 when The Pat McAfee Show originated with Barstool Sports, and 'Barstool Van Talk' cancellation.
• Where: The discussion took place on Barstool's 'The Unnamed Show'. The Pat McAfee Show airs on ESPN.

The situation highlights the complex relationship between Barstool Sports and ESPN. Portnoy's reluctance to explicitly state his reasons suggests potential legal or contractual concerns. The comparison to Fox Sports' policy implies that Portnoy believes ESPN is a competitor and that Barstool talent appearances on the network benefit ESPN more than Barstool. The underlying issue seems to be a lack of trust stemming from past experiences.

If we had a conversation offline and I told you why I get mad about it, you wouldn’t go on anymore. I can’t do it online. I can’t do it. And by the way, it’s not a McAfee [thing]. It’s an ESPN. It’s not McAfee, it’s ESPN.

At FOX Sports, none of their guys can go on ESPN. None. You can’t. We let it… It’s not just you, and it’s not just one, but when it seems like it’s a literal regular feature, then I’m like, ‘Why are we helping ESPN?'

Dave Portnoy's discomfort with Barstool talent appearing on The Pat McAfee Show reflects ongoing tensions with ESPN. While the specific reasons remain undisclosed, they appear to stem from past conflicts and a perceived competitive disadvantage. The situation raises questions about the future relationship between Barstool Sports and ESPN and whether Barstool will implement stricter guidelines regarding talent appearances on rival networks.