Notorious basketball dad LaVar Ball has been unofficially banned by ESPN after making an on-air comment to a female host that the network later described as 'completely inappropriate.'
According to https://twitter.com/richarddeitsch/status/1141430904650420225 of The Athletic, the network has 'no plans [to use Ball] moving forward.' Furthermore, an ESPN source told Deitsch that ESPN.com will no longer use Ball as source, either on or off the record.
In speaking on ESPN's 'First Take' on Monday, Ball veered off topic, prompting host Molly Qerim to say, 'LaVar, can I switch gears with you because I have a question here.'
Ball quickly responded, 'You can switch gears with me anytime,' while appearing to mime the act of shifting a manual transmission.
In speaking on ESPN's 'First Take,' Ball veered off topic, prompting host Molly Qerim to say, 'LaVar, can I switch gears with you because I have a question here.' Ball quickly responded, 'You can switch gears with me anytime,' while appearing to mime that exact motion
Following Ball's comment, Qerim (left) rolled her eyes and smiled before taking a deep breath and continuing. Ball (right with son LaMelo) was on the show to discuss his oldest, Lonzo, who had just been traded from his hometown Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans
Co-host Stephen A. Smith responded by giving Ball a look out of the corner of his eye, while the other co-host, Max Kellerman, cracked a smile.
Qerim rolled her eyes and smiled before taking a deep breath and continuing.
ESPN released a statement condemning Ball: 'LaVar Ball's comment to Molly Qerim Rose was completely inappropriate and we made him aware of that.'
Towards the end of Monday's show, Qerim referenced Ball's earlier comment, saying, 'If anyone's calling HR today, it's me.'
In his own defense, Ball released a statement through spokeswoman Denise White, claiming he did not intend to make a sexually suggestive remark.
'[LaVar] was asked if he wanted to switch gears, in his mind switching gears was 'changing the subject anytime' and he said, 'yes, you can switch gears with me anytime.' At NO time was that intended or meant to be sexual in nature,' read the statement, which was published by TMZ.
Ball was in studio Monday to discuss the recently-agreed-upon trade that will send his oldest son, Lonzo, from his hometown Los Angeles Lakers to the New Orleans Pelicans. (The trade cannot be officially completed until July)
Ball's
