ESPN's Inside the NBA show took a swipe at New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini during a segment about the Boston Celtics' playoff exit. The hosts displayed a photoshopped image of a Boston fishing boat carrying local celebrities, including John Krasinski, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Bill Simmons, and Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. At the bow, two figures recreated the iconic 'I'm flying' scene from Titanic, representing Vrabel and Russini.
Page Six previously published photos of Vrabel and Russini at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona, allegedly holding hands. Both have denied wrongdoing. Vrabel and Russini are married to other spouses, and a journalist engaging in a romantic relationship with a source is considered a serious breach of ethics.
During the show, host Kenny Smith feigned ignorance and tried to bait Charles Barkley into commenting on the alleged couple. Ernie Johnson pretended not to see them, saying, 'Ben Affleck and Matt Damon on there, Tatum and Brown. That’s all I see on that boat. I don’t see anything else.' The hosts quickly moved on without directly referencing the inclusion.
Russini resigned from The Athletic last month, defending her work and describing the allegations as 'speculation' that is 'simply unmoored from the facts.' Vrabel initially called the accusations 'laughable' but later took a short leave from the Patriots to attend counseling, stating his 'previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to.'
