The show's title comes from remarks toward James made by Fox News' Laura Ingraham in FebruaryNBAE/getty images
LEBRON JAMES is among the exec producers for a new three-part Showtime documentary titled "SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE," which details the "changing role of athletes in the current political environment," according to Joe Otterson of VARIETY. The title was "taken from" Fox News' LAURA INGRAHAM’s remarks to James in February. That controversy "serves as a prologue to the series as it chronicles the modern history of the NBA and its players," starting with the NBA-ABA merger in '76. The series will "premiere on Showtime in October" and is a "presentation of Showtime Sports Documentary Films and James’ SpringHill Entertainment." The series will be directed by GOTHAM CHOPRA (VARIETY.com, 8/6). In L.A., Nardine Saad notes the announcement comes just a few days PRESIDENT TRUMP made remarks about James, but it is "unclear if that even will make it into the docuseries" (L.A. TIMES, 8/7). Also in L.A., Stephen Battaglio notes Showtime is "fighting the cord-cutting tide." Showtime President & CEO DAVID NEVINS said that the channel is "now at an all-time high in the number of subscribers with 25.5 million." Much of that growth is "coming from subscribers" to Showtime's OTT service, which makes it "available to broadband internet users who may not have cable." The network is also "getting in deeper" with politics (L.A. TIMES, 8/7).
TAKING A STAND: SI.com's Rohan Nadkarni noted athletes who have spoken out, whether it is about Trump or police brutality, are "still taking an important step." They are "risking alienation (or in some cases, their careers) by using their platforms to bring awareness to important issues." Athletes like James, COLIN KAEPERNICK and CARMELO ANTHONY are "showing how to make real differences in the lives of individuals with disregard to political structures" (SI.com, 8/6). THE UNDEFEATED's William Rhoden wrote, "Is James’ dust-up with the president activism, social activism or simply social media activism?" This "isn’t exactly" the same situation as that of other athletes who fought racism, like WILMA RUDOLPH, MUHAMMAD ALI, TOMMIE SMITH and JOHN CARLOS or Kaepernick. James is "not kneeling, not raising his fist, not exhorting fellow NBA players to ignore the collective bargaining agreement that compels them to stand for the anthem." He is "fighting a war of words through social media with the president." Rhoden: "Will he let it go?" James "should fire back." Challenging those in power is "more important than ever" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 8/6). In N.Y., Carron Phillips writes when Trump faces scrutiny, he "finds a way to deflect the attention toward his favorite targets," including "black sports figures" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/7). ESPN" Amin Elhassan said, "People are going to look back at this week where LeBron became more than just a basketball player. ... It's going to carry his legacy even further" ("Jalen & Jacoby," ESPN2, 8/6).
DIFFERENT GAME: FS1's Colin Cowherd does not believe the NBA should be worried about drawing the same scrutiny from the President as the NFL does, saying, "I really believe that Trump's audience is the NFL audience to a large degree." Cowherd: "I've never felt that with the NBA. The NBA kind of mocks Trump, considers him a cartoon character. They just kind of laugh. ... (In) the NBA, it's almost popular to attack Trump. It's a badge of honor." Former NBAer Stephen Jackson added, "The NBA shouldn't worry about it because LeBron is handling it right. ... The league just needs to leave it alone because he's doing it right." However, FS1's Jason Whitlock expressed caution, claiming stars like James speaking out is "part of a pattern that is going to eventually lead to the kneeling coming to the NBA" ("Speak for Yourself," FS1, 8/6). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "Trump calls JERRY JONES and says, 'I got a winner with this anthem thing. You can't beat me here,' and it's been pretty clearly demonstrated that he's right about that one. Whenever they go toe-to-toe, the NFL loses. When he comes at the NBA, the NBA is like, 'Whatever, man'" ("High Noon," ESPN, 8/6).
