Dan Le Batard has never been one to bite his tongue when it comes to ESPN, and he's at it again. The former network star, who left in 2021, is now questioning the racial makeup of the people cashing the biggest checks at the Worldwide Leader.
On Thursday's show, Le Batard didn't hold back, pointing out that the executives handing out the monster deals look a lot like the people receiving them. "It's a whole lot of white people hiring a whole lot of white people," he said. "The people at ESPN getting the big chances and money are Joe Buck and Pat McAfee and Josh Pate and Rich Eisen. Has anyone noticed that's happening?"
His comments come just a day after Joe Buck signed a six-year extension worth around $108 million, and with Pat McAfee reportedly pulling in between $60 and $65 million a year. Le Batard, who still respects many of his former colleagues, isn't questioning their talent—he's questioning the system that seems to funnel the biggest rewards to white personalities.
Even Stephen A. Smith, who's no slouch in the salary department himself, chimed in on the debate. While he was quick to congratulate McAfee, Smith also acknowledged the uncomfortable reality for Black media figures. "I'm happy for him. He's earned it, and I truly mean that," Smith said. "But as a Black man, I don't believe that's an opportunity that would ever come to us first. In our society, there usually has to be a precedent set before somebody is in a position to capitalize off of that."
Smith, who has been a dominant force on ESPN's linear channels, noted that McAfee's success in streaming is a different beast—and one that might not be as welcoming to Black talent. "He's earned it with a multitude of things that he has done. I've been incredibly successful in linear. He's incredibly successful in streaming. The future is there, and I think that's incredibly important," he said.
ESPN hasn't publicly responded to the criticism, but the conversation is far from over. Le Batard, who has never shied away from calling out his former employer, is clearly watching the network's moves closely. His recent blasting of the Miami Herald over Greg Cote's firing shows he's not afraid to take on media institutions.
The debate also echoes broader questions about how networks decide which games and personalities get the spotlight, and whether the playing field is truly level. As ESPN continues to hand out record-breaking contracts, the question of who gets those deals—and why—isn't going away anytime soon.
