Dave Portnoy, the fearless founder of Barstool Sports, isn’t just a guy who built a media empire—he’s a master of the online battlefield. Whether he’s throwing pizza reviews at the world or dunking on his haters, Portnoy has a knack for turning digital dust-ups into victories that leave his opponents scrambling. Here’s a rundown of the top five times “El Presidente” came out swinging and walked away the champ in an online clash.
1. The New York Times Smackdown (2022)
When The New York Times tried to paint Portnoy as a shady figure in the sports betting world, they probably didn’t expect him to flip the script so hard. The paper claimed he “didn’t provide answers” to their questions, but Dave wasn’t having it. He took to Twitter (now X) and dropped screenshots of his direct messages with reporter Emily Steel, proving he’d offered to sit down for an on-the-record chat—on his terms, of course. The Times wanted dirt, but Portnoy turned it into a masterclass in transparency, calling out their narrative-driven journalism. Fans rallied, the tweets went viral, and the Gray Lady looked like it got caught with its pants down. Score one for Dave.
2. The Dragon Pizza Throwdown (2023)
Portnoy’s “One Bite” pizza reviews are legendary, but when he rolled up to Dragon Pizza in Somerville, Massachusetts, things got spicy. The owner stormed out mid-review, accusing Dave of tanking small businesses with his one-bite critiques. Big mistake. Portnoy didn’t just take it—he clapped back, mocking the guy’s tiny T-shirt and standing his ground while onlookers cheered him on. The clip blew up online, turning a sidewalk spat into a viral win. Dragon Pizza thought they’d play hero, but Dave’s quick wit made him the people’s champ. Extra cheese on that W.
3. Shutting Down the Ivy League Presidents (2023)
When the presidents of MIT, Harvard, and Penn waffled during a congressional hearing about condemning antisemitic hate speech on campus, Portnoy saw red. He took to Instagram, slamming their “refusal to condemn the murder of Jews” and vowing Barstool wouldn’t hire grads from those schools until the leaders stepped down. The post hit like a freight train, sparking outrage and debate across social media. Critics called it grandstanding, but Dave’s unapologetic stance won him a legion of supporters who saw him as a rare voice calling out spineless leadership. The Ivy League blinked; Portnoy didn’t.
4. The Chiefs Super Bowl Meltdown Roast (2025)
After the Kansas City Chiefs got smoked 40-22 by the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, Portnoy didn’t waste a second. He dropped an “emergency press conference” video on X in the third quarter, tearing into Patrick Mahomes with lines like, “Tom Brady never puked on himself how Patrick Mahomes just did.” Chiefs fans flooded his mentions, but Dave doubled down, tweeting that their “weakest dynasty of all time” couldn’t touch his beloved Patriots. The savage takes racked up millions of views, and while Chiefs Kingdom fumed, Portnoy’s loyal army ate it up. Mahomes might’ve lost the game, but Dave won the internet.
5. The Caitlin Clark Hype Train (2024)
Dave’s no stranger to picking winners, and when he jumped on the Caitlin Clark bandwagon during March Madness, he didn’t just cheer—he dominated the conversation. Portnoy snagged tickets to Iowa’s Elite Eight clash with LSU, and when Clark drained a trademark three-pointer, he leaped out of his seat, high-fiving strangers, and posted the moment to X. He even jokingly offered her $10 million to join Barstool’s intramural hoops team. The video went nuts, and while haters tried to call him a bandwagon fan, Dave’s infectious energy turned it into a win. Clark kept scoring, and Portnoy kept owning the narrative.
Portnoy’s online victories aren’t just about being loud—they’re about being relentless, quick on his feet, and knowing how to play the crowd. Whether he’s taking on corporate media, pizza shop owners, or NFL dynasties, Dave’s got a playbook that keeps him winning where it counts: the wild, wild west of the internet. What’s your favorite Portnoy clash? Drop it in the comments—I’m ready to argue why mine’s better.
