Craig Carton slams Dianna Russini for ‘brain-dead decision’ as new show launches
Craig Carton — who knows a thing or two about questionable decisions — has some doubts about Dianna Russini’s thought process amid her return media Wednesday.
The WFAN host ripped Russini on Tuesday for opting to partner with offshore sportsbook BetUS for her return after resigning from The Athletic amid allegations she had an affair with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, along with her polarizing route to avoid addressing the purported dalliance.
“…Which just fascinates me how she continues to make bad decisions after bad decisions,” Carton said on his self-named show. “She partnered with BetUS. BetUS doesn’t have any operations in the U.S. BetUS is an illegal sportsbook in Curacao. Yes, it is not regulated or licensed in a single state in this country. It’s not illegal to be with them, but if you do you’re never going to see your money.
“That couldn’t be a more brain-dead decision. You’re trying to come back, you’re trying to convince people to give you a shot, which I agree you deserve, the first thing you do is not acknowledge you were banging Mike Vrabel, kind of deny it without using those words.”
Carton knows a thing or two about the sports betting world and being afforded second opportunities
He went to jail in 2019 for wire and securities fraud after misappropriating funds to pay off gambling debts, leaving him with $4.8 million to pay in restitution.
He has since joined the efforts to educate people about the potential issues with gambling, and is back with WFAN despite leaving the company twice before.
Russini is attempting a career revival after allegedly having an affair with a coach — a journalistic no-no.
She resigned from The Athletic in April amid allegations, and the company’s multi-month investigation revealed she violated some newsroom standards.
The report also raised questions about her former reports on Vrabel.
“That said, there are examples of Russini writing glowingly of Vrabel that in hindsight are awkward or even uncomfortable,” wrote Mike Semel, The Athletic’s editorial director for standards and quality.
Russini went off the grid before recent rumors of a return, and she’s now re-entering the reporting world via her partnership with BetUS.
She will do a weekly show and column for the offshore sportsbook, which Carton explained is not compliant with U.S. bettors.
“And then you announce of all the gambling sites people use in this country, you’ve chose none of them and instead are working with BetUS, which is an illegal sportsbook in this country?” he explained. “It’s not illegal to place the bet, they just can’t take U.S. money.”
He added: “So that is a horrendous choice for your first partner, but I get it, they wrote you a check.”
Carton also teed off on Russini for showing a lack of accountability, as she launched her return in an interview with People but did not admit to any wrongdoing.
“The best way to describe what the last six months were like for me is heartbreaking,” Russini told the outlet. “At the beginning of this, it was a nightmare.”
He referred, as mentioned before, to how she has not admitted to the alleged affair that Page Six exclusively revealed via photos of the two at an Arizona resort in March before more photos of the pair emerged, including the two being quite cozy in a New York City bar in 2020.
Carton also indicated that her first show’s guest list — Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, plus radio host Damon Amendolara and sports radio executive Spike Eskin — is underwhelming.
“That’s how you’re coming out of the gate hot?” he said.
Carton added: “‘Hey coach Parcells, did you ever bang a female insider?’”
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