During a 30-minute interview, a question caused ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski to stop for 12 seconds. Wojnarowski is used to being the one who breaks the news, tweets it, and talks about it on television.
Therefore, being on the other end of a query is not your triple threat position.
Known for the “Woj bombs,” his firsts have earned him a seven-figure salary and made him among the most powerful people in the NBA. That is why your comfort zone is asking, not answering.
The question that caused Wojnarowski to stop was if he had ever sent an “Fk you” email to someone before delivering that message to Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) two weeks ago.
“I was sorry to send that email,” Wojnarowski told The Post after the long hiatus. “I haven’t made a habit of doing that, but I sent it in and I’m sorry.”
Wojnarowski later said that he had never sent an email like that before, but he totally regrets his actions that led to what he believes is the first suspension of his life, a two-week no-pay timeout that has just ended.
ESPN suspended Wojnarowski after Hawley revealed on Twitter that Wojnarowski sent an email to “Fk you” following a letter that Hawley sent to the media inboxes questioning the NBA’s relationship with China.
“I understood the decision they made,” said Wojnarowski, 51. “I accept it. I left them no choice. You can’t do what I did and not expect consequences.”
Wojnarowski received support for his actions from NBA colleagues and players, including LeBron James, who tweeted, “#FreeWoj.”
“I feel much more comfortable reporting the news, trying to break the news than being the news,” Wojnarowski said. “I am proud to let history be the news and let the league be the news. My action made me the news and I am sorry. ”
Wojnarowski was annoyed with himself for disappointing everyone on ESPN / Disney; especially its bosses, starting with the president of the network, Jimmy Pitaro.
“I took the focus off the company,” Wojnarowski said. “In that way, I think I disappointed people. It is a rather difficult time in which we live, in which the company operates, with which everyone has to deal. I made it more difficult for everyone. It was difficult to deal with. “
Wojnarowski said he left voice messages at Hawley’s Washington and Missouri office, but received no response. Wojnarowski declined to elaborate on why he sent the email emanating from his iPhone.
“I am not going there,” Wojnarowski said. “I can’t send an email like this to a senator or anyone in my position on ESPN. That is not a way I can or should express myself to anyone. “
Hawley’s letter was addressed to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and focused on the league’s relationship with China. ESPN, as a business partner and company for Disney, has been in the middle of it all.
In October, Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted in support of a free Hong Kong. This caused a major international business crisis between China and the NBA. Wojnarowski liked Morey’s tweet and, as Deadspin first mentioned, he was soon no longer on his Tencent show, “Woj in the House.”
Wojnarowski said ESPN will follow the NBA-China story.
“I and we have reported on the NBA’s relationship with China,” Wojnarowski said. “We will continue to report on this when warranted. It has been an ongoing story. “
Wojnarowski describes the NBA news as a 24/7/365 job. When asked if he had possible “Woj bombs” during his suspension that he should keep to himself, he instead praised the work of colleagues Malika Andrews, Zach Lowe, Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon.
When reminded that this was not the question, he said he left his notebook for the break.
“I was not reporting,” Wojnarowski said. “I was not in a position to report stories or pursue them. I wasn’t chasing them. I don’t like to feel it. I don’t want to be in that position ever again. I always want to be someone they can count on to be productive. I want to go back to that. “
Wojnarowski doesn’t want to go anywhere either. ESPN’s sentiment is mutual.
“Woj is extraordinary at what he does as a trusted NBA newscast,” said Connor Schell, executive vice president of content for ESPN. “He made a mistake here, owned it and apologized for it. We are in a good place for this season and beyond and we are making progress. ”
Wojnarowski, with more than a year left on his contract, looks like he wants to be an ESPN lifeguard
“For me, I have the best job in the world in the only place where I want to do it,” Wojnarowski said.
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