‘The industry is crazy’ – Bill Simmons casts doubt on Pat McAfee’s future at ESPN after Caitlin Clark controversy

The war of words between Bill Simmons and Pat McAfee continued, with suggestions that McAfee may not be gone from ESPN for long following his controversial comments about Caitlin Clark.

McAfee apologized last week for referring to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark as a “white bitch” when talking about this season’s rookie class.

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Simmons is not the type to let something like this go and he referenced the controversy when speaking with Sal Iacono on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”

“Luka is +210,” Simmons said, referring to Luka Doncic’s NBA Finals MVP odds.

“But if Pat McAfee called you a ‘white bitch’ before the game, would that make it bigger or smaller, Sal? Would the Finals odds be affected by this?”

“He just apologized for it,” Iacono responded. “He proactively apologized for calling Luka a ‘white bitch,’ so that’s good.”

“I happened to watch that apology this morning,” Simmons responded.

“Yes? Did it tear a little?” Iacono asked.

“It was an emotional thing,” Simmons responded. “The guy in Mullet #2 was crying. It was really great.”

Simmons wasn’t prepared to stop there; instead, he openly questioned his future at ESPN following the furore caused by his comment.

“The overmatched Pat McAfee is still at ESPN. If I gave you February 2025, more or less?” Simmons asked Iacono and Joe House later in the podcast.

“Oh, I’m going to sink,” Sal replied. “This industry is crazy. Yes, I’m going to sink. February 2025? That’s what, 17 months? Solid underneath.”

Simmons made the unfortunate comment about Clark when talking about the WBNA television rookie class.

“I wish people in the media would continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie gang, this rookie gang.’

“Nah, just tell me what it is – there’s a white bitch on the Indiana team who’s a star.”

Fans were uproared after the comments, and McAfee took to X – the site formerly known as Twitter – to apologize.

“I contacted Caitlin Clark during the fever, sent an apology and received a message saying everything was fine,” McAfee posted.

“No blood. We move on. And she thanks us when we apologize. So that obviously makes me feel a little better.

“But for the people who were upset and offended yesterday, I understand. I learned a lot.”

Obviously, there is bad feeling between Simmons and McAfee as this continues an ugly exchange between the two.

Earlier this year, McAfee told Simmons to “keep talking” after the former NFL star was mocked by The Ringer founder and CEO.

Simmons responded by criticizing McAfee for ESPN’s low television ratings.

We wouldn’t pull the plug on this one just yet either – there’s likely more to come.