A day after John Mellencamp criticized Pat McAfee’s actions (without naming the former Indianapolis Colts punter) at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, McAfee had a response.
“What a moment for John Coug yesterday,” McAfee said on his show on May 30. “I don’t know what he thought he was doing with that particular quote tweet. … He puts out this horrendous quote tweet, a horrendous graphic. John, can’t tell you how bad everything you did was. Everything. The graphic, the quote, the timing. You’re two days late, John. He puts this thing out there, doesn’t even say my name. John, shut the f— up.”
On May 29, Mellencamp posted a statement on X regarding McAfee’s actions during Game 4 of the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.
“‘Hoosier Hospitality. I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don’t know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team,” . “The audience booed these people. I’d say that was not Hoosier Hospitality.”
Mellencamp did not name McAfee, but he was likely referring to a point in Game 4 when McAfee was given a microphone to hype up the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“We got some big wigs from the big city in the building!” he exclaimed. “Spike Lee is here! Ben Stiller is here! Timothee Chalamet is here!”
The crowd loudly booed with each name called.
McAfee said he did not appreciate the criticism from Mellencamp.
“I don’t think you or your team had any idea that there might be people on my side, John,” McAfee said. “So I hope whenever you opened your X account — if it is you — you seen what everybody did. You could have taken the angle and be like, ‘Hey, there are some people attacking Pat for what he did. I’m actually on Pat’s side because we represent this state of Indiana. We’re lucky and thankful to represent this state of Indiana. We don’t have a lot of people pulling for us in this state of Indiana but you know what, I see another young buck that’s doing it and I appreciate him doing it.’ You could have easily done that, John. But instead, you tried to think you were burying me. I don’t think so, John. Hey, Coug, suck it, buddy. Hope I get a chance to see you real soon. … I don’t want any of your bull—-. I don’t like you, I know your name, and I don’t like you.”
The Pacers lead the Knicks 3-2 in their best-of-seven series. Indiana will host New York on May 31 in Game 6.
