Dan Le Batard suspended for 2 days for LeBron billboard

[freethrowtommy]

Dan Le Batard Trolls LeBron James and Cleveland Fans with Billboard in Akron | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2154592-miami-fans-troll-lebron-james-and-cleveland-fans-with-billboard-in-akron?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national2)

Ohio has LeBron James once again, but Miami Heat fans aren't going to let Cleveland Cavaliers fans forget where the superstar won his rings.

This billboard was spotted recently in Akron, Ohio. Not only does it troll James and Cavs fans, but check out the font used at the top. A message written in Comic Sans? Nice touch.

It appears that Dan Le Batard was indeed behind the billboard. The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reported that ESPN has suspended Le Batard for his role in putting up the billboard.

I guess everyone knew he was a Miami homer except for his employer. I guess taking out a billboard ad is crossing the line? Get real, ESPN.

[asujbl]

I didn't read the report but I've seen the billboard

He tried to do it in the CPD but they rejected it and wouldn't print it in the paper

I think it's clever as hell being from Miami. I have no problem with it.

I like when teams tweak at each other.

I'd be a hypocite if I said it was "lame" as I thought the billboards the Spurs put up poking the Heat were great.

[JasonM32]

I don't see that billboard as being particularly inflammatory.

[freethrowtommy]

I didn't read the report but I've seen the billboard

He tried to do it in the CPD but they rejected it and wouldn't print it in the paper

I think it's clever as hell being from Miami. I have no problem with it.

I like when teams tweak at each other.

I'd be a hypocite if I said it was "lame" as I thought the billboards the Spurs put up poking the Heat were great.

I agree. His ESPN personality is loving all things Miami, so I am not sure why it is such a shock to see him do something like this. I don't think there is a single ounce of hate in it. Le Batard knows that Miami doesn't get rings without LeBron and LeBron doesn't get them without Miami. It was a mutual benefit to everyone involved.

[spurs50fan]

If it wasn't already apparent, ESPN loves Lebron so this is like kicking the golden goose. What's strange is that he had been talking about doing it on the air. Surely they heard it??

Still don't see what's wrong with it?

[Italy61587]

I don't see what the problem here is. Not cool ESPN

[kl4life2]

ESPN is just covering itself - seeing that Lebron and Cleveland are going to be its attempt at another cash cow for many years.

[Amerigo Vespucc]

His show on Espn sucks. Dan Le-retard.

[SalvationSC]

Freedom of speech, just watch what you say -_-

[JasonM32]

His show on Espn sucks. Dan Le-retard.

Yes, and they play it twice in row for some reason. Listening to his father's indecipherable babble is a little too much for me. When they have an interview and his dad asks a question even the athletes don't know what the hell he is saying. It's awkward.

[ninjacookies]

Lebron is ESPN's first born child, and it shows.

Complete joke by the network, but no surprises here.

[pico04]

Yeah, I hate The Dan Le Batard show and hope this leads to him eventually getting shut down. I dont understand why they let him on the air ways during prime time...The Billboard would have been funny if it was a surprise but he had been getting shut down left and right on this stupid idea.

What an idiot....

[JasonM32]

Lebron is ESPN's first born child, and it shows.

Complete joke by the network, but no surprises here.

He is their Le-Meal Ticket and we are all witnesses. One of the multiple reason's why I hate ESPN. Too bad they have such a monopoly.

[inopethflames]

God i hate espn, how on earth does this deserve a suspension, i cant even comprehend what possible reason they could have for suspending someone for this. are there expletives and racial epithets written in invisible ink on there too that i dont see??

espn is the absolute most politically correct organization on earth. you cannot make a joke on their air without having to apologize for it and be suspended. every single week one of their people gets suspended and they apologize. every week! its ridiculous. it makes me sick they like to brand themselves as the bad-ass sports network who covers the nfl the most bad-ass game on the planet, in their opinion, but do any tiny thing that is in any way controversial or politically incorrect, and youre suspended. i also love the fact that their anchors over all their channels encompass every race and nationality on planet earth. that is hilarious to me.

i watch espn news for nba info, absolutely nothing else on their channels.

[ninjacookies]

espn is the absolute most politically correct organization on earth.


Welcome to Disney.

[zonacats8]

Great joke by Le Batard, I'd love to see Lebron return the favor and put up a billboard in Miami (as close to Dan's home as possible) with the same image, but says, "You're Welcome, Dan. Love, Lebron"

Now that would be funny

[motu79]

I'm not a fan of LeBetard (he is better than Gottlieb though, barely) but he just went down a big notch. He spent an entire show blasting the Cleveland newspapers because they were reporting he was trying to take out a full page ad and they wouldn't take his money. He kept YELLING (he does that a lot, which is annoying) that he was only looking to get a quote and wasn't gonna do it.

Lo and behold though, he does go and do it on a billboard. Which tells me he WAS trying to take out a full page add with this statement. He's just a tool and hopefully ESPN replaces him sooner than later.

[dasiegel]

I find Dan annoying but I respect him. He's not a punk, he calls guests out on the show and to me, this is just funny.

[keysersoze4242]

This stunt is hilarious and the suspension is ridiculous. You can't even have good natured rivalries in sports anymore. I will say that I listen to his radio show in podcast form daily because I think he's hilarious and has a unique perspective compared to any other national media members. His interviews with guests each day are incredibly entertaining and he seems to get more out of them than anyone else at ESPN or Fox Sports.

[BoxBreaker72]

My god what is happening to this world?

This gets you suspended? Good god...

[byronscott4ever]

Good publicity for him

[Beavers98]

I think it's pretty good old fun there...Nothing bad, obscene, etc....Just a good jab.

[Brobocop]

Thought it was a silly little joke. When I saw the comic sans though, can't lie, totally laughed.

[SethMurphy]

All the people calling the suspension ridiculous must not be old enough to hold jobs

Whether it was in good humor or not, when you work for a big company like espn as an on air personality, you give up your freedom to do things like this because your personal views could be taken as those of the company and any major company can not allow that.

The suspension had to happen, and as you can surely tell, two days is a slap on the wrist, basically espn gets to save face by saying we suspended him, but in reality he got off with nothing

[keysersoze4242]

All the people calling the suspension ridiculous must not be old enough to hold jobs

Whether it was in good humor or not, when you work for a big company like espn as an on air personality, you give up your freedom to do things like this because your personal views could be taken as those of the company and any major company can not allow that.

The suspension had to happen, and as you can surely tell, two days is a slap on the wrist, basically espn gets to save face by saying we suspended him, but in reality he got off with nothing

Not sure why you had to demean people, but apparently you must not be old enough to know how to read before posting. Do you know what he did? Your point is correct in general, but when you are trying to apply it to the same company which airs First Take, your reasoning has no place here.