Dave Portnoy, the fearless leader of Barstool Sports, recently shared a personal victory—his triumph over cancer. In his signature style blending sincerity with a dose of humor, Portnoy revealed he’s now in remission from the disease. This news came during a candid conversation on Wednesday, where Portnoy discussed his health ordeal openly, maintaining his characteristic mix of jest and straightforwardness.
The moment unfolded casually during a chat with fellow Barstool colleagues, as Portnoy offhandedly remarked, “I did have cancer. I beat it. It wasn’t the serious kind, thank God.”
His unexpected disclosure took his teammates by surprise, prompting an astonished response from Rico Bosco, “Really?” to which Portnoy responded affirmatively, “Yeah, really.”
The exchange highlighted not only the shock of his colleagues but also their lack of awareness about his condition. Big Cat expressed disbelief, asking, “How did you not know?” while Bosco admitted, “Because you don’t tell me nothing.” Despite the gravity of the topic, the team’s interaction retained a sense of normalcy and humor.
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Portnoy also touched on the physical toll of his treatment, pointing out a prominent scar on his neck. True to form, he quipped about the scar’s appearance, showing his ability to inject humor into even the most serious situations.
During the ‘BFFs’ podcast on Wednesday, further details emerged when Brianna LaPaglia noticed the scar and questioned, “Do you have a scratch on your neck? Like a cut?” Portnoy, not missing a beat, replied, “Yeah, cancer. I beat it though.”
When LaPaglia speculated if it was “Skin cancer from laying in the sun all day and no sunscreen?” Portnoy confirmed with a simple “Yup.” He then recounted other challenges he’s overcome, saying, “I’ve had a heart attack, cancer, and stung by bees, beat it all.”
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Portnoy disclosed he had basal cell carcinoma, the most prevalent and least severe type of skin cancer, typically caused by excessive sun exposure without adequate protection. He shared insights into the treatment, which involved stitches and removal of the cancerous mole, and remarked humorously, “It looks pretty badass,” while acknowledging the serious nature of any cancer.
Ever the non-conformist, Portnoy downplayed the severity of his health scare, eschewing pity. “I don’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I have cancer, feel bad for me.’ It was only basal cell carcinoma, not serious. But I really wanted sympathy,” he joked. Even his sports fandom played a role in his anecdotal storytelling, “God forbid the Celtics lost last night, I was just gonna be like, ‘I have cancer.’ God, I don’t want to talk about it, but they won.”
Known as “El Presidente,” Portnoy founded Barstool Sports as a free newspaper in Boston in 2003, initially focusing on gambling advertisements and fantasy sports projections. The Massachusetts native and University of Michigan alum has since transformed Barstool into a formidable digital media empire, drawing a vast and varied audience, thanks in part to his unabashed and often provocative demeanor.