FS1's Kristine Leahy hopes sports networks stop putting LaVar Ball on their shows "just to get controversial statements out of him," as his contentious appearance on "The Herd" earlier this week is an example of "potentially what could happen." Leahy and Ball got into a heated exchange on Wednesday, and on Thursday's show, she said, "The reason that so many networks choose to have him on is because he says a lot of controversial things. He's loud and a big personality, which I've been totally fine with." However, Leahy said the way Ball talked to her has "no place" on TV, "no matter what kind of ratings you're going to get." FS1's Colin Cowherd earlier in the show said he was not going to "sensationalize what happened" on Wednesday, noting Leahy was "disrespected, and she went right after him." Cowherd then defended the decision to bring Ball on as a guest, saying he "had news value" and has been on the show two previous occasions. Cowherd: "As everybody always says, 'Why do you put him on? I've told you ... you drive the bus. I put him on, we set a digital record. I put him on again, we broke that record." Cowherd asked Leahy if she would accept an on-air apology from Ball, to which she replied, "My issue with what happened is just a complete lack of respect. He can disagree with everything that I have to say and do it passionately. You and I do it all the time, we do it with our co-workers. But have some respect. Don't threaten me, don't make personal jokes, don't mock me and don't say you're not going to look me in the eye. If he wants to come on and look me in the eye and be respectful, he can still disagree with me. I'm okay with that, but I will not tolerate what he did" ("The Herd," Fox Sports Radio, 5/18).
