Dan Le Batard comments on ESPN suspension for LeBron James billboard

ESPN announced on Thursday that it had pulled Dan Le Batard off his afternoon radio show for funding billboards put up in Akron, Ohio that read “You’re welcome, LeBron” on the behalf of Miami Heat fans.

ESPN’s statement read:

"“Dan will be off the air for two days, returning Monday. His recent stunt does not reflect ESPN’s standards and brand. Additionally, we were not made aware of his plans in advance.”"

 Now, Le Batard has commented on the suspension via a text to Greg Cote of the Miami Herald.

"I asked Dan for a comment. He just texted me: “I guess ESPN didn’t find it all quite as funny as I did.”"

Le Batard also took to Twitter to seemingly make light of the situation.

There are many interesting things to think about in light of Le Batard’s suspension. It seems odd that Le Batard would get a suspension (two days) for a good-natured prank that’s not radically different than one Stephen A. Smith recently received (five days) from ESPN for some completely inappropriate comments about domestic violence.  ESPN also handed down its suspension of Le Batard much quicker than it did Smith’s.

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Additionally, Le Batard spoke of his plans on his ESPN radio show for the past week, so the idea that ESPN didn’t know Le Batard had something up his sleeve (as they suggest in their statement) is certainly confusing.

But as Cote points out, this is great publicity for Le Batard, so he still is probably the big winner here.