Overview
- Wilbon announced on social media that he is taking an indefinite leave from Pardon the Interruption and his ESPN/ABC NBA duties because of “multiple health issues” and said this is not retirement.
- The statement, posted Monday, said the struggles are health related and are not tied to alcohol or gambling and Wilbon has described feeling exhausted and recently being hospitalized.
- ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro issued a public statement offering the network’s full support for Wilbon and his family and saying the network looks forward to his return when he is ready.
- An ESPN spokesman confirmed that frequent PTI guest hosts Pablo Torre and Frank Isola will fill in this week and that the network will redeploy other studio analysts to cover his NBA work.
- Wilbon’s leave comes days after PTI’s 25th anniversary and highlights both his long tenure with Tony Kornheiser and the need for ESPN to plan interim coverage and longer-term succession for a flagship daily show.