After Adrian Wojnarowski’s retirement, ESPN is on the hunt for his replacement, and Shams Charania’s name is buzzing as a top pick. Charania, who picked up some serious skills from Woj back at Yahoo Sports, has been dropping major scoops and insider info. Now that he’s a free agent, his mix of experience and Woj’s mentorship makes him a prime candidate for ESPN.
In addition to this, former NFL legend Pat McAfee came through heavily for Shams Charania for ESPN. “We do know another person who’s incredibly handsome, good on TV, plugged, currently a free agent I believe … Shams Charania. Shams Charania is the answer,” Pat said. However, fans aren’t exactly thrilled. Instead of hype, the internet’s been flooded with roasts and memes since the ESPN rumors dropped.
One fan wrote, “Oh no!! We’re all going to be left with @ShamsCharania!! My free agent news will be arriving 3 minutes later – everything is doomed!” Ouch. It wasn’t just a joke about timing; it was a straight-up diss, hinting that Shams might not bring the same heat that Woj did with his signature “Woj bombs” that had everybody stopping in their tracks. The fan’s basically saying Shams won’t have the same speed or clout when it comes to breaking the big news.
To Shams’ credit, there are instances he’s broken news faster than Woj. But fans are still in awe of Woj’s legacy. There’s a whole wave of reactions coming in. Some fans are straight-up trolling Shams, while others are hyping him up big time. Let’s check out the fan responses and see all the drama unfolding.
“Copy and paste” – Fans react to the rumor of Shams Charania moving to ESPN
Another fan chimed in with, “Kind of surprised Sham didn’t copy and paste Woj’s retirement statement to tweet it out 30 seconds later. Just for old times.” This tweet is again a straight-up roast of Shams Charania, suggesting he might not have the same speed or impact as Adrian Wojnarowski. It pokes fun at their rivalry, playing on the fact that Shams, while known for breaking major news and learning the ropes from Woj back at Yahoo Sports, might still lag in comparison.
One fan wrote, “Shams to ESPN is as soft a move as KD to the Warriors.” This jab is comparing Kevin Durant’s 2016 move to the Golden State Warriors. Reportedly, Durant sought an easy path with the move as championship-caliber players Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry were in the team. Such a move made winning titles almost a sure thing. The fan is comparing KD’s “easy” move to Shams Charania potentially joining ESPN, a well-established and well-regarded agency. The fan is suggesting that, just like KD’s move, Shams taking the job at ESPN is a shortcut to the top in sports journalism.
Amid all the trolling and hate, one fan shared a post saying, “Woj passing the torch to Shams to replace him at ESPN“ alongside a collage of Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama. The fan is comparing Woj to Duncan, a legendary Spurs player, and Shams to Wembanyama, the rising star, to show that Woj is passing his legacy to a new talent. It’s a heartfelt nod to Shams’ potential to keep the greatness going.
Even with all the social media hype and fan reactions, nothing’s locked in yet. Shams Charania might be a top pick, but he’s not the only player in the game. With other big names like Chris Haynes, Marc Stein, Brian Windhorst, and Ramona Shelburne also in the running, it’s still anyone’s guess. It’s a thrilling moment for NBA reporting, and while the buzz is real, we’ll just have to hang tight and see who scores the gig. What are your thoughts on this?