ESPN Suspends Radio Host For His LeBron James-Trolling Billboard

ESPN suspended a Miami-based radio host after he erected billboards throughout Ohio to troll LeBron James.

Dan Le Batard, host of the Le Batard Show, told Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote that he was merely wreaking “fun anarchy” on James for never thanking Heat fans when he recently announced he was heading back to the Cleveland Cavliers. Le Batard put up billboards — paid for by his dad and co-host Gonzalo Le Batard — showing two championship rings under the text, “You’re Welcome, LeBron. Love, Miami.”

Adding insult to injury, the message was written in Comic Sans.

But, as Le Batard texted to Cote Thursday, “I guess ESPN didn’t find it all quite as funny as I did.”

ESPN released the following the statement: “Dan LeBatard 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.”

Before posting the billboards, Le Batard attempted to buy a similar full-page ad in local Ohio paper The Plain Dealer, which “politely declined” the offer. He also tried The Akron Beacon-Journal, which also said no.

This is a mock-up of the rejected newspaper ad, which leaked on Twitter: