Dave Portnoy is not letting the Mad Dog off the hook.
On his SiriusXM radio show earlier this week, Chris Russo vowed to retire if the Diamondbacks erased a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven NLCS by winning two games on the road in Philadelphia.
The Diamondbacks did just that, but Russo is walking back the promise.
In response to Russo agreeing to a modified punishment with Howard Stern in which he would stroll the streets of New York City wearing a bikini and hold a sign that says “I’m a douche” (the wording was modified to something less vulgar), Portnoy unloaded.
“This is garbage. I like Mad Dog but he has to retire. End of story. You can’t make proclamations like he did and then not follow through. Retire @MadDogUnleashed,” the Barstool Sports founder tweeted.
Portnoy sent another tweet, above the video of Russo’s original retirement proclamation.
“He has to retire,” Portnoy reiterated.
On Monday, Russo effectively bet his career on the Phillies.
“To make a long story short, I’ve been wrong on Arizona from Day 1,” Russo said.
“I’m stunned they beat Milwaukee, I thought they’d get swept by the Dodgers, I never thought they’d even go back to Philly for a Game 6.
“I’ll try it one more time: I would not be stunned if they won [Monday night], I would be floored. … If they win the next two days, they win the next two games and win this series in seven games, if they win, I will retire on the spot.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo relished the opportunity to make Russo eat his words.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Lovullo told USA Today.
“There’s nothing better than a wise guy New Yorker saying something and then having to chomp on those words. That’s how I’m processing it. It will be great.”
The Diamondbacks will face the Rangers in the World Series, which begins Friday night.
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