Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy calls San Antonio Spurs’ Popovich ‘pompous asshole’ during podcast

Barstool Sports CEO and Founder Dave Portnoy landed in hot water with Spurs fans this weekend for calling Hall of Fame head coach Gregg Popovich a “pompous asshole.”

“Just coach the teams. He thinks he’s God,” Portnoy said during Friday’s recording of the Barstool Live podcast at River North Ice House. “He thinks he’s the righteous mortality. He always lectures you. I always feel like Popovich is lecturing me. I don’t want to hear from you. Coach your team and shut up.”

Portnoy, who founded Barstool Sports Media in 2003, is in San Antonio for the NCAA Men’s Final Four. And although he’s no stranger to controversy, his take on Popovich left plenty of Spurs fans upset. The remark draw audible boos from the crowd gathered to watch his live taping, according to MySA.

“I know I’m in the middle of a San Antonio crowd, but I just have to say I hate Gregg Popovich,” Portnoy said. “I did a pizza review today and he was on the window. I was like, ‘I fucking hate Popovich.”

The podcaster continued unloading on Pop, adding that “anybody could win” with a team comprised of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker – all of whom are now Hall of Famers.

Portnoy, a Boston native, doesn’t appear to have enjoyed his weekend in the Alamo City. Beyond bagging on Popovich, he’s also whined about losing $7 million in crypto, losing sleep due to loud music from a nightclub near his hotel room and SA’s lack of good pizza.

Despite Portnoy’s grumbling, many folks in town for the Final Four appear to be enjoying what San Antonio has to offer.

“I do think San Antonio is the best possible host site for the Final Four considering how walkable and eventful downtown is,” Houston-based sports reporter Steve Helwick said in a tweet. “Never need to get in a car all weekend. Riverwalk, Alamodome, everything’s all there.”

Rochester-based sports anchor Mat Mlodzinski agreed, posting on social media platform X that “San Antonio is the perfect place to host the Final Four.”
The final game of the tournament between the University of Florida Gators and the University of Houston Courgars will get underway at 7:50 p.m. at the Alamodome. The big game will air on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.

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This article appears in Apr 2-15, 2025.