ESPN personality and noted Miami homer Dan Le Batard has been suspended from the Worldwide Leader as a result of billboards he had erected in Akron recently. The billboards, which read “You’re Welcome, LeBron. Love, Miami” next to two championship rings, were spotted after it was reported that Le Batard failed to get a similar message published in two Cleveland-area newspapers.
Le Batard eventually copped to being behind the stunt and was given a two-day suspension from ESPN for violating the network’s “standards and brand.”
ESPN tells Yahoo Sports Dan LeBatard "off air for two days" b/c of billboard "stunt," which "does not reflect ESPN’s standards and brand."
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) August 7, 2014
Seems pretty harsh for a relatively playful and harmless stunt, especially for a guy whose bias and sense of humor have helped pave the way to get him where he is today. But then again, I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised that ESPN is standing up for LeBron here considering he’s made up 90% of their coverage this summer.
