Dave Portnoy Goes Into Violent Tirade Against Barstool Employees and Reveals He Almost Fired Them

Dave Portnoy tore into two of his Barstool Sports employees, revealing that he almost terminated their contracts after they missed the broadcast of the Mets-Phillies game.

“I haven’t recovered,” Portnoy fumed, taking it out on Rico Bosco and “Smitty” after they chose not to work during the MLB playoffs this week. Barstool regularly hosts live performances, recording staff reactions as the game unfolds.

The Barstool boss claimed he was engaged in conversations with the company’s HR department, trying to figure out how he could fire both employees.

“I was so angry. And by the way, I don’t fire people,” Portnoy said. “I was next to myself. I think I was mumbling to myself: This is straight up insubordination. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing.

Portnoy added: “I was as annoyed as I had been in a long time… I was texting HR wondering how to terminate contracts. I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw.

Dave Portnoy ripped into two Barstool employees, revealing he almost terminated their contracts

Both Rico Bosco and “Smitty” left the broadcast for the Mets’ game against the Phillies

Smitty explained in a Barstool article that he missed the game because it coincided with his 40th birthday.

He insisted he didn’t regret his decision, saying the weekend his wife organized was “better than everything I’ve ever done here at Barstool combined.”

But Portnoy invited Smitty to leave the company if he had other priorities. “Anyone in the country would cut off their fucking thumbs to work here,” says the Barstool CEO.

“Smitty (says) “I want to spend time with my family…” so get the fuck out of here because I don’t need you. You asked to work here. When your contract ends, you beg for an extension. If Smitty wants to leave… go do what you want.

Portnoy described the decision to skip the broadcast as a “slap in the face”, revealing that he discussed the terms of the severance package with HR. “If I lay off some people, what would that look like?” – he asked them.

“I was as pissed as I’ve ever been,” Portnoy said of his two employees