Dan Le Batard has not been suspended, but reportedly skipped his radio show Monday after a fruitless attempt to change ESPN’s politics policy. Also: a longtime NBA TV host is exiting; The Athletic has suspended Jonah Keri indefinitely; Matt Millen is returning to the broadcast booth.
It’s all just a little bit of history repeating
ESPN broadcaster Dan Le Batard skipped his radio show Monday, but has not been suspended by the network, according to multiple reports Monday. On the radio show Thursday, Le Batard criticized both the U.S. president and ESPN’s policy of avoiding topics determined to be political. The comments came in the wake of the president writing that four Congresswomen should “go back” to the countries they “originally came from” (three of the four were born in the U.S.), and his supporters chanting “send her back” in reference to the one of the four who was born outside of the country.
According to Sports Business Daily, Le Batard spent the weekend “trying to convince ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro to relax his no-politics edict for ESPN talent.” Pitaro, who has made avoiding what he terms politics the defining issue of his administration, is said to have not budged.
According to SBD, the Post and The Big Lead, Le Batard made the decision to take the day off from his radio show. He is expected to be on his daily TV show Highly Questionable. [The Big Lead 7.22, NYP 7.22, SBD 7.22]
Kamla latest NBA TV perennial to exit
Longtime NBA TV host Rick Kamla is leaving the network to join a radio station in Houston. Kamla spent 17 years with NBA TV and had already been there six years by the time Turner Sports began running its operations in 2008. His departure comes weeks after the cancellation of NBA TV’s “The Starters,” a daily talk show that began in 2013. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution 7.19]
Keri suspended after arrest
The Athletic has suspended Major League Baseball writer Jonah Keri indefinitely after he was arrested on three counts of assault and one count of making a death threat against his wife. Keri, who is out on bail, has been ordered to stay at least 820 feet away from his wife and child. Keri also contributed to SportsNet and DraftKings, which have also distanced themselves from him. [Awful Announcing 7.19]
Millen returning to booth
Big Ten Network analyst Matt Millen will return to the broadcast booth this season after a long layoff due to a rare heart condition. Millen, who underwent a heart transplant in December, has not been on the air since last October. [AP via ESPN.com 7.19]
