Dave Portnoy defended his decision to leave Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony early on Wednesday evening.
The Patriots threw the event at Gillette Stadium to honor Brady’s time in New England and enshrine his career in their history books. Portnoy – along with John Feitelberg, Hank Lockwood, and Paul Gulczynski of the infamous Brady 4 – was at the event as Robert Kraft’s guests.
After getting trolled for leaving the ceremony before Brady took the podium, the Barstool Sports chief took to Twitter to explain his reasons. Sporting a Celtics hat, Portnoy detailed that he left to catch the end of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.
‘The ceremony was supposed to end at 9.30 [and] it’s running really late,’ Portnoy says. ‘I don’t even see the end of the door at 9.30. Kraft still has to go, Brady still has to go, and we’re moving into the mid-third quarter.
After admitting that his flaming passion for the Celtics was the reason for his premature exit, Portnoy emphasized that Brady would have understood his decision.
Dave Portnoy defended his decision to leave Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction
Portnoy left the ceremony before the seven-time Super Bowl champion took the podium
Portnoy also mentioned how he tried to watch the game on his phone while at the ceremony, but his streaming service struggled to work.
‘I’m like, I have to watch this f****** game,’ Portnoy continued. ‘This is Banner 18. Yeah, Tom Brady, I love you, but what’s Tom Brady always say? What’s his favorite banner? His favorite banner is the next one, and that’s how I am.’
‘I move forward, I don’t move backward, this is the NBA f****** Finals. It’s not Game 2 of the regular season. If we win this game, it’s f****** donezo. If we lose it, no Porzingis, series is back on. So yeah, I gotta go watch this f****** game.’
As Brady gave his remarks, he acknowledged the Brady 4 being in attendance despite Portnoy being nowhere in sight. While narrating his journey to a bar to watch the end of the game, Portnoy noted the backlash he received.
Portnoy and the infamous Brady 4 were invited by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft
The Barstool Sports chief left the festivities early to catch the end of Game 3 of the NBA Finals
Brady addressed the Brady 4 during his remarks, long after Portnoy had left the premises
‘I run to a bar, I don’t walk. I’m sprinting to a bar to watch the game. Now I’m getting chirped,’ he said before naming Julian Edelman, Bill Burr, and Eric Nathan, who all called him on his disappearing act.
‘I’m in a bar, willing the Celtics to a 20-0 run, willing Banner 18. It’s the f****** the NBA Finals. I gotta be there. I gotta be locked in.’
On a memorable evening in Beantown, fans gathered at Gillette Stadium for Brady’s induction and TD Garden for a watch party of Game 3.
Portnoy’s decision and effort in ‘willing’ his team to victory was worthwhile as the Celtics surged to a 106-99 win over Dallas and took a commanding 3-0 lead.
‘I made a decision that I had to make. Sorry, I’m such a f****** huge Boston fan. Brady made the decision, he’s like: ‘I gotta go to Tampa Bay,’ I said: ‘I gotta go to a bar to watch this f****** game and get another Boston championship.’
The Celtics surged to a 106-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks and took a commanding 3-0 lead
The Celtics could win their first title since 2008 if they beat the Mavericks on Friday night
‘It’s unfortunate, they’re going on at once. My phone wouldn’t work. I need to be locked in. I’m living and dying. I can’t sit there silently.’
The Celtics are one win away from getting their first NBA title since 2008 and will meet the Mavs on the road for Game 4 on Friday.
‘The Brady 3 got some shine – let them have it,’ Portnoy claimed. ‘I’ve had enough shine. I don’t do this for publicity and to be like: ‘clap for me.’
‘I do it to bring banners [and] trophies to this city. And that’s what I had to do last night.’
