Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Media

ESPN Suspends Dan Le Batard From TV, Radio For Buying LeBron Billboards

ESPN has suspended Dan Le Batard from both his television and radio shows until Monday because it is "upset that his radio show purchased several billboards that will be displayed for a month in the Cleveland/Akron area coinciding with" LeBron James’ return, according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. The billboards "show the two NBA championship rings that James won with the Heat and say, 'You’re Welcome, LeBron. Love, Miami.'" The message was a "jab at the fact James did not thank Heat fans" after he announced his return to the Cavaliers. ESPN said in a statement, "His recent stunt does not reflect ESPN’s standards and brand. Additionally, we were not made aware of his plans in advance." Jackson notes Le Batard's radio show "initially considered buying full-page ads with the same message, but newspapers in Cleveland and Akron rejected the ads before they officially were submitted." Maureen Lesourd, the GM of WAXY-FM, the flagship for Le Batard's national ESPN Radio show, had "no role in the suspension but declined to say if it was unwarranted." Jackson notes WAXY has a "deal to renew" its ESPN Radio affiliation, which is set to expire next month, and it "wants to do nothing to jeopardize that" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/8).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/08/08/Media/Le-Batard.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/08/08/Media/Le-Batard.aspx

CLOSE