ESPN’s Michael Wilbon Absolutely Nukes New York Times in Wild Rant: ‘Gutless Motherf*ckers!’

Longtime ESPN host Michael Wilbon didn’t mince words in a heated rant trashing The New York Times over its treatment of sports journalism.

Wilbon appeared on the Dan Le Batard Show on Wednesday to discuss the 25th anniversary of his ESPN talk show Pardon the Interruption. While reflecting on Wilbon’s legacy and the rise of talk shows at the network, Le Batard noted how ESPN brought in writers from other outlets to have the “credibility of newsrooms on television.”

He then pointed out that The New York Times was the only outlet that never allowed its sportswriters to appear on ESPN for shows like PTI and Around the Horn.

When Le Batard asked Wilbon if The Times was “right and everybody else was wrong,” Wilbon took the opportunity to blast the publication for its handling of sports coverage.

“They bailed,” Wilbon said. “They were the first to bail. F*ck The New York Times! I work for a better section anyway. You think I wouldn’t take a section with Tom Boswell, and Dave Kindred, and Tony Kornheiser, and Sally Jenkins, and David Remnick, and David Aldridge, and J.A. Adande — and I’m skipping a whole generation of people — Barry Lorge, the greatest tennis writer of all time? Half those people went to television. F*ck The New York Times, which bailed on our profession. It bailed. It took the sports section away. Gutless motherf*ckers!”

Le Batard couldn’t contain his laughter throughout Wilbon’s rant.

“Did I stammer?” Wilbon asked.

“Nope, nope, understood you clearly,” Le Batard said.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!