In a surprising move, the highest‑paid sports commentator in history issued a public apology to former Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving for remarks made during the 2021–22 NBA season.
When Irving declined to comply with New York City’s COVID‑19 vaccine mandate, the commentator labeled him “selfish” and the player was barred from participating in home games, resulting in a significant pay cut.
After viewing a recent congressional hearing in which Dr. Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, the commentator paused his vacation to reflect on the broader implications of the incident.
He acknowledged that Irving’s stance may have been more justified than previously recognized, stating that the player was “more right” and had been “unfairly vilified.”
In the apology, the commentator expressed sincere regret, saying, “I did him wrong. And for that, I’m sincerely sorry.”
Irving forfeited $11.4 million in game checks and a $100 million contract extension in order to remain unvaccinated, making his holdout the largest financial sacrifice by an athlete over a single issue in history.
