ESPN is DEAD to me!!!

[TSIAS]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/08/dan-le-batard-suspended-espn-lebron-james-billboard

ESPN television and radio host Dan Le Batard was suspended for two days after he paid for billboards in Cleveland that mockingly read “You’re Welcome LeBron; Love, Miami” and displayed the two title rings he won with the Heat. The billboards were a sly reference to James’ famed letter to Cleveland, which seemed to thank everybody except for Miami fans and their four years of support. The top line was written in Comic Sans, of course.

Basically ESPN has a guy in Skip Bayless who spent 4 years trolling Miami and LeBron James and he gets his own TV show. Stephen A. Smith defends domestic violence and after much deliberation only gets a 1 week suspension.

Look, ESPN has the right to censor LeBatard's material. Nothing wrong with that. LeBatard made a decision to join the Evil Empire, so he pretty much has to take whatever they throw at him.

I can't believe how awful Cleveland fans have become. I listened to some of their news coverage, and some idiot said "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything". Self-awareness certainly doesn't appear to be a great strength of their city.

I think it's hilarious. Whether or not James owes Miami a thank you, I could care less. Both sides made out well. People in South Florida have better things to do than attend parties hating on James. You won't see us urinating into toilets with James' face on it. You saw what happened when James left Cleveland. Their franchise was atrocious and got lucky by "winning" the lottery three times. Miami, while not a top contender, won't be relegated to the cellar as Cleveland was in their 4 post-James years.

I'd like to say I'd never watch ESPN again, but unfortunately they have such a monopoly on sports that it would be nearly impossible for any sports fan to take on. Really, the only reason to watch ESPN's original programming is LeBatard and Keith Olbermann.

I'm sure this actually played out well for LeBatard and his show. ESPN will be seen as the side who silences voices and defends domestic violence and sexually harrasses their employees. LeBatard takes a few days off and gets the publicity he wants.

[liberal N proud]

1. Cleveland TV stations are reporting it was a Miami radio host.

[RockaFowler]

2. How was ESPN caught off guard on this??

Dan has been talking about it for weeks now

Look at David Price & Jon Lester - both bought full-page ads thanking their respective cities. LeBron couldn't even buy a 1/4 page ad thanking the Heat or the fans. It really is a little childish if you ask me . . .

[TSIAS]

3. They might have known

It's quite possible that they had warned LeBatard and he decided to go through with it instead. I understand that ESPN has its right to its standards, but the whole billboard seemed more in jest than anything. I've read through Twitter and listened to his show, and LeBatard doesn't hold any ill will towards James. This was more of a slight jab at omission of thanks towards the Miami fanbase.

I'm not sure why James didn't thank the Miami fans. It's possible he saw the empty seats at 7:00 starts in the lower bowl and assumed Miami fans were frontrunners. However, I think myself and most Miami fans are very supportive. After the Decision, and especially the Dallas Finals disaster, we were the only ones who had James' back. He was disliked across the country, but Miami fans defended him. You look around Miami and see how many #6 jerseys there were. I don't think for a minute the omission was a mistake. That letter was carefully crafted, and the decision was clearly made before that Thursday night/Friday morning.

All James had to do was give a perfunctory thanks and Miami fans wouldn't have anything to complain about. I'm not going to go out and burn his jersey, but you can bet I'll actively root against the new Super Team that Dan Gilbert complained so much about in the past.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. If You Could Care Less, Then Why Post?

Perhaps you meant you COULDN'T care less, in which case the post might make sense.

And no, i'm not being a grammar nazi. This isn't grammar. "I could care less" in a post you took the time to write is nonsensical.