The state of West Virginia is taking significant measures after being excluded from this year’s men’s NCAA tournament, and ESPN commentator Elle Duncan is clearly frustrated. Following Gov. Patrick Morrissey’s announcement of an investigation into the NCAA regarding the Mountaineers’ snub, Duncan delivered a passionate critique of politicians like Morrissey who prioritize sports fan antics during crucial moments to “curry favor” with constituents instead of addressing real issues.
“It’s so silly,” Duncan said Tuesday on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. “I love when politicians try to cosplay as irrational, angry fans. How many West Virginia games do we think that dude has watched this year? Where’s West Virginia in terms of public school rankings, because I think they’re like 35th in the United States? Where’s your outrage for that? Where’s your outrage for literally anything else that’s happening in the country right now, but this is your sticking point? You’re pissed about this?”
According to a 2023 report from Scholaroo, the state ranked 34th in education. Like any governor, Morrissey has a list of pressing issues that could improve constituents’ lives. Duncan emphasized that her criticism isn’t about West Virginia being worse off than other states but rather about how Morrissey’s actions are transparently hollow. By pursuing an investigation that is unlikely to yield results in time for this year’s NCAA tournament, he is squandering valuable time that could be redirected to address real concerns.
“Whenever politicians do this, it’s so f***ing annoying, because you don’t care,” Duncan asserted. “You’re just trying to rally your base, curry a little bit of favor, but you don’t care. And there are certainly more important things in the state of West Virginia that need to be addressed.” She added that even within the realm of sports, issues such as NIL policy, public school sports funding from elementary through college, and gambling regulations are vital and can be decided at the state level. When leaders like Morrissey indulge in such stunts, it not only misallocates resources but also reveals a fundamental ignorance about what’s truly important in the sports landscape.
Moreover, Duncan highlighted that Morrissey is likely fighting a losing battle regarding the Mountaineers’ tournament bid. “If all things are equal, they’re always going to go with a Blue Blood,” she stated. “And that’s because of ratings.”
