Things just can’t be simple with Daniel Snyder.
The volatile Redskins owner is in the middle of a confounding story involving a sports radio show set to debut on ESPN’s Washington affiliate, which is owned by Snyder. The show, titled “The Man Cave,” was set to debut on March 16, but without official explanation, it did not.
Sources inside the station alleged to the Washington Post it was due to Snyder’s distaste for one of the hosts, Jason Reid, a former columnist at the paper, who was critical of the long-suffering franchise.
The show was assumed to be cancelled as everyone involved in the show went quiet, but the paper reported Tuesday the show would now debut this coming Monday. Even Reid has ignored calls from former colleagues seeking an update on the situation. But a tweet from the show’s handle appeared to confirm the report.
In yet another strange twist, it appears the show’s producer fell for a hoax call from someone purporting to be ESPN President John Skipper. The caller, imitating Skipper’s North Carolina drawl, demanded the show be pulled and ESPN’s national “Mike & Mike in the Morning” continue to run.
Though it would be highly unusual for the president of the powerful sports network to get involved with a radio affiliate, the calls briefly threw the show into turmoil. But that was not the reason for the delay. Redskins president Bruce Allen called Skipper after being told of the odd demands. Skipper told Allen he did not make the calls and ordered ESPN staffers to get to the bottom of it, according to the report.
Allen declined comment to the paper, saying: “Talk to the radio station. You should talk to the radio station” when asked at the NFL Owner’s Meetings.
So, to recap: Complete and utter turmoil without any viable explanation – sounds like a Daniel Snyder operation.