Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has challenged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to donate $250,000 — a number that Portnoy will match — to the Bar Fund small business relief campaign.
Not long ago, Portnoy tried to donate $250,000 to the NFL’s coronavirus worker’s fund. Well, now, in a Dec. 23 tweet, Portnoy is telling Goodell that he still has the $250K, and if the NFL chief puts in his own $250K to help small businesses survive the coronavirus shutdowns, then Portnoy will match it.
Last week, Barstool Sports’ Portnoy did more to help small businesses across the United States than Congress has been able to for months.
Portnoy, an outspoken critic of the restrictions federal and state governments have imposed on small business since last spring, announced on social media the establishment of The Barstool Fund, a relief fund for small businesses who have opted to continue paying employees despite the tough financial conditions the extensive restrictions have caused.
WATCH:
Introducing The Barstool Fund
If you are a small business that needs help staying in business because of covid email us your story to [email protected]. We will try to help as many people as we can. pic.twitter.com/9BS8HeyHaq
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 17, 2020
The impetus for the challenge started back in May when the NFL refused to take Portnoy’s winning bid of $250,000 to watch a football game with Goodell.
Portnoy had offered the $250K bid at an NFL auction meant to benefit frontline workers early in the coronavirus crisis. Despite that Portnoy’s bid was the winner, Goodell and the NFL refused to accept the money and barred the website chief from receiving his prize.
Hey @nflcommish remember that 250k donation you refused to take from me for frontline covid workers? I still have it. If you donate 250k to #barstoolfund to save small business I’ll match it. Quick 500k. Let’s go.
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 23, 2020
The Barstool Sports founder excoriated the NFL, saying, “You have cowards, you have mega cowards and then you have Roger Goodell. Don’t let me win it and then come up with this.”
Flash forward to this month when Portnoy and his sports website launched the “Bar Fund” to help small businesses
Portnoy announced the fund early in December, saying that it may not be the best plan because the “best plan is the government getting off their ass and issuing relief, billions of dollars to these small business owners who are losing their livelihoods.”
“That’s the solution. That’s the only solution really — but barring that, we’re going to do whatever we can,” Portnoy said.
Thus far, Portnoy has raised more than $4 million with his fund, according to Fox Business Network.
Just passed 4 million raised for #barstoolfund thanks to @marcuslemonis 500k donation! Never would have started if he didn’t call me out. The new goal is infinity dollars. https://t.co/2hl9Fcpvpt pic.twitter.com/QcluXyndVP
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 24, 2020
WATCH Portnoy surprise small business owners:
I will go on any network any time to raise money for small businesses and the #barstoolfund. We have asked to go on everywhere. Only Fox invited me.
Donate here: https://t.co/2hl9Fcpvpt pic.twitter.com/IaeVl8dwc7
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) December 24, 2020