If you thought the days-long public explosion of Wizards drama couldn't get any more intense, well, I've got their former in-game host putting Ernie Grunfeld on blast to sell you.
Rodney Rikai, who served as the Wizards' in-game host for five seasons -- from 2013-14 to 2017-18 -- departed from D.C. to Los Angeles this summer to work as an account manager for Hennessy, and also on his blossoming writing and acting career. Rikai returned to D.C. Tuesday night to be honored by the Wizards before their game against the Clippers with a framed jersey.
Rikai was all smiles Tuesday night (and rightly so).
A post shared by Rodney Rikai (@rodneyrikai) on Nov 20, 2018 at 5:20pm PST
I really spent 5 years clowning around for a living ------ pic.twitter.com/fkmv04FKZs
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018By Wednesday afternoon, Rikai was ready to share his true feelings about what he thinks is plaguing the Wizards organization, calling out team president Ernie Grunfeld for rampant mediocrity (and rightly so).
(NSFW Warning: Language)
Before the season began, I posed a question would you rather have Otto Porter or Kent Bazemore... And y'all made it seem like I was trippin... Give me Kent Bazemore ANY DAY OF THE WEEK over Otto. Especially when taking into account their salaries.
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018This man Ernie Grunfeld is the worst GM in all of professional sports bro. And it's not even like he's a nice guy. Dude is a straight up dick. He's perpetually rude, and shows NO sign of gratitude, appreciation or joy for his job
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Get his ass out of DC IMMEDIATELY. Keeps bringing in players on these 1 year deals who are playing for their next contract, fuckin up team chemistry. Giving player options to dudes who barely deserve a jersey, much less the right to determine whether or not THEY come back
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018How you give Jodie Meeks a player option bruh? We aint even know Jodie Meeks was still in the LEAGUE until he popped up in Verizon Center with a brown scully and bubble vest on.
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Never seen such incompetence by one man... @stephenasmith always barking about how Marvin Lewis should be fired, but took it easy on Ernie Grunfeld who has a WAY worse track record. How are you under a 150 games below .500 for your tenure??
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Ask any hard working member of monumental that isn't a high ranking exec, or player about their interactions with Ernie. I GUARANTEE over 80% will say, "yo that guy's a douche." He's the cloud bro. He's the dark ass cloud that makes that place not shine like it should
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018The shit makes NO sense! And DC media doesn't EVER say anything about it. I'm like yo, why is this man allowed to just be in the shadows like this?? https://t.co/YdBh1gTDoy
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Damn sure did. I was disappointed https://t.co/XwwAHE0yIT
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Ted is an AMAZING dude with a big ass heart. Zach is one of the coolest people you could kick it with... But they're in an abusive relationship with Grunfeld. He's taking advantage of them. Time to cut ties and flourish with a modern, fresh and energetic approach to this team
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Also... there was 1000% in fact a Marcin Gortat tribute video cut and ready to roll. But, SOMEONE made a call and had it nixed yesterday morning...
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018I appreciated the hell out of my time with the Wizards, and yesterday was amazing man. Thank you for that tribute. But DC deserves better than Ernie Grunfeld... Also don't ever think I am or was just the wizards hype man/host lol. Ya'll better do some research.
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Redskins have two bad seasons and they're ready to torch the place. Weird. https://t.co/CPfvkcA2sB
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018I’ve had th convo with several of them. No one likes the guy, no one thinks he’s good at his job, but no one will go on record and say it. I can’t for the life of me understand it https://t.co/5jAw1TCcwl
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Rikai, like a true statesman, picked the perfect moment to share his opinions, waiting until he was completely untethered from the organization.
lmaoooooo MAN I been WAITING
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 21, 2018Watch how he tiptoed toward the line prior to Tuesday night's ceremony.
I blame no players and no coaches for the wizards current state though.
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) October 29, 2018Damnnnnn the wizards down THIRTY?!?! Where is Andrew Nicholson when you need him?!
— IG|Snap: RodneyRikai (@RodneyRikai) November 3, 2018Impressive.
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