If you’ve spent any time on the corner of the internet where sports meet absolute chaos, you’ve seen the face. It’s usually red. It’s often yelling. And more likely than not, it’s being dunked on by Dave Portnoy or a Hollywood A-lister.
White Sox Dave (WSD), real name Dave Williams, is the human embodiment of a Chicago neighborhood dive bar. He is loud, fiercely loyal, and occasionally—okay, frequently—the target of a company-wide "intervention" for saying something that defies basic logic. But there is a reason he’s been a staple of Barstool Sports for nearly a decade while others have faded into the background.
He’s authentic. Aggressively so.
The Man Behind the Mouse
Most people know him as the guy who got into a shouting match with John Cusack outside a playoff game. It was 2021. The White Sox were playing the Astros. WSD spotted Cusack and decided right then and there to settle a years-long beef. He called Cusack a bandwagoner for rooting for both the Cubs and the Sox.
Cusack called him a "sweaty belligerent punk."
It was perfect. It was also peak White Sox Dave.
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Before he was a professional internet antagonist, Williams was just a guy from Wheaton, Illinois, who lived and breathed South Side baseball. He actually played at North Central College—a pitcher with a 12.60 ERA in 2009, a stat his coworkers never let him forget. That background in actual sports, however dismal the stats, gave him the "baseball guy" credentials that eventually caught the eye of the Barstool mothership.
Why Does White Sox Dave Still Work at Barstool?
Barstool has changed a lot. They moved to Chicago. They got bought by Penn, then bought back by Portnoy for a dollar. Through all the corporate shifts, WSD survived.
Why? Because you can’t teach his brand of "remoron" energy.
He isn't playing a character. When he tried to explain "speed" to a woman in a viral clip or argued that he could throw a piece of fruit further than a professional athlete, he actually believed it. In a world of polished influencers and scripted takes, that’s rare.
The Chicago Move
When Barstool opened the massive Chicago office, WSD was essentially the "vibe architect" for better or worse. He transitioned from being a regional blogger to a daily presence on The Mid Show and The Yak.
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- The Mustache Era: His 2020 beard/mustache combo became a lore-point of its own.
- The "Mouse" Nickname: Portnoy once famously labeled him a "mouse" for backing down during a confrontation, a name that stuck for years.
- The Snake Drafts: He’s a regular on the Barstool Chicago Snake Drafts, where his picks are often so bad they become the highlight of the episode.
What Most People Get Wrong About Him
A lot of fans think WSD is just the "office idiot." That’s a bit of a lazy take. Honestly, if you look at his output, the guy blogs more than almost anyone else in the company. He’s a grinder.
Back in late 2024 and through 2025, there was a lot of chatter about his contract. People wondered if he’d survive the move to a more "video-first" strategy. Not only did he survive, he leaned into it. He started doing things like the "mile-long race" against Captain Cons and "fruit throwing" competitions.
He understands that at Barstool, being the butt of the joke is just as valuable as being the one telling it. Maybe more so.
The Legend of the "Torpedo Bats"
One of the funniest moments in recent memory—well, 2025 memory—was the saga of the "Torpedo Bats." Big Cat and the rest of the Chicago crew convinced WSD that the Yankees were using high-tech bats with internal weights to cheat.
He bought it. Hook, line, and sinker.
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Watching him try to "address" the scandal with total seriousness while everyone else held back laughter is why people keep clicking. It’s that blend of sports knowledge and total gullibility that makes him a unique asset.
How to Follow WSD Today
If you’re looking to get the full experience, you can’t just follow his Twitter (which is a 24/7 stream of White Sox misery and gambling picks). You have to watch the shows.
- The Mid Show: This is where the Chicago guys (Eddie, Chief, WSD) talk about life, local beefs, and the state of the city.
- The Yak: This is the high-concept, often absurd daily show where WSD is often put in "the gauntlet" or asked to perform physical feats.
- Barstool Chicago Snake Drafts: Every Monday. These are essential for seeing his truly unhinged logic in real-time.
Actionable Insight for Fans
If you're a White Sox fan—first off, I'm sorry—but if you want the most "raw" coverage, WSD is your guy. Don't go to him for deep analytics or Statcast data. Go to him for the emotional rollercoaster of being a South Sider.
If you're looking to start a career in digital media, watch how he handles criticism. He has the thickest skin in the industry. He gets yelled at by his boss, mocked by his peers, and ridiculed by fans, and he still shows up the next day to write 3,000 words about a backup catcher. That's the secret to longevity in this business.
Check out his latest blogs on the Barstool site to see if he's finally forgiven John Cusack—though we all know the answer is probably a loud, resounding "No."