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Michelle Beadle returned from the (media) dead last month and revealed that LeBron James — someone more unbearable than even Beadle is — once tried to convince ESPN to fire her. Beadle said LeBron was angry because she made fun of The Decision.
While believable that Beadle’s commentary hurt LeBron badly, it didn’t make sense why he wanted Beadle, not the rest of the critical pundits, fired. As Beadle noted, she was one of "like 400,000 other talking heads" who bashed LeBron for how he left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons on November 28, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
But this week, Beadle added more context:
"[LeBron] had a person at the network who he wanted. He wanted her to be the host of [NBA Countdown]," Beadle said on the House of Strauss podcast.
"He does not like me, and I honestly have stopped trying to figure out why. For some reason, it goes back years. I’ve been around Maverick Carter. He refuses to shake my hand."
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) looks down as the national anthem plays before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
So LeBron wanted someone other than Beadle anchoring the NBA Finals on ESPN/ABC. That adds up. LeBron wanted a host who’d go easier on him, someone to whom he had access.
We can safely assume that Beadle is referring to Rachel Nichols. ESPN replaced Beadle with both Nichols and Maria Taylor on its NBA pregame show in 2019. And unlike Taylor, Nichols has a professional relationship with LeBron. Nichols is often LeBron’s go-to for a sit-down interview.
NEWBURY PARK, CA - MARCH 28: ESPN talent Michelle Beadle speaks during a panel for the Her Time To Play basketball clinic hosted by JR.NBA and WNBA with on March 28, 2019 at Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, California. (Will Navarro/NBAE via Getty Images)
Moreover, Beadle subtweeted Nichols after the New York Times ran a career-ending hit piece on Nichols to assist in Maria Taylor’s absurd contract demands:
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This story now includes Beadle, LeBron, Nichols, and Taylor — four of the most spineless, unpleasant people in America. Fantastic.
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