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LeBron James’ decision about where he will play next season is certainly newsworthy but to devote a one-hour prime-time special on it?! That’s what ESPN is doing with the dramatically-titled The Decision tomorrow night at 9PM. (That name is usually used by news networks for their coverage of other important events, like presidential elections.) Given that the announcement of James’ choice will take a few minutes at best, expect an hour of fillers leading to it, kinda like an American Idol results episode. (UPDATE: ESPN says James will announce his team pick in the first 15 minutes, which brings up the question: Why not do it as a 15-minute special?) And if you thought that was an overkill, ESPN also plans a three-hour SportsCenter leading into The Decision that will be devoted to James’ decision as well as an expanded two-hour SportsCenter immediately following the special, which will dissect that decision. At least James is doing it for a good cause: proceeds from The Decision will be donated to Boys & Girls Club of America.
UPDATE: In a conference call with reporters, ESPN defended the editorial integrity of its decision to let James’ company LRMR Marketing sell the ad spots for The Decision, noting that the money goes to charity. ”There was no rights fee, no payment, and we will have complete editorial control over the hour,” ESPN executive VP of production Norby Williamson said.
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I love it when pencil-jockeys try and weigh in on Sports news. Seriously, don’t pretend to know what is and isn’t news worthy. But the additional significance of this announcement obviously is the huge local market ratings impact it will have…as well as being an historic development in the career of one of the greatest athletes of our time.
Sure it’s important, but are you seriously telling him ESPN would be giving this decision 1 hour plus a 3 hour lead-in if this weren’t the biggest dead time of the sport calendar. It was either this giant low cost time filler that’ll garner an okay rating or a WNBA game.
only pretender is you, punk
I must say that I’m stunned that both Ari and LeBron did not learn a thing from Coach John Wooden’s recent passing or better yet his incredible coaching of life as well as his teaching of basketball.
If they had, Ari wouldn’t be wasting his time bashing Richard Lovett who would have advised against the dumbest move in the history of the NBA. Doing an hour special on ESPN to pass on Cleveland’s offer was plain stupid. The only way that you do the special, is if your decision is to stay in Cleveland. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
In case the 2 great students of the game don’t know who John Wooden is, here are 3 of his famous quotes that they can surely learn from the next time they decide to do some business together.
“Be quick but don’t hurry.”
“Never mistake activity for achievement.”
“Talent is God given. Be humble.”
“Fame is man-given. Be grateful.”
“Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
John Wooden
So he’s going to the Knicks because of Jay-Z?!?! Weird.
Jay-Z has a minority ownership stake in the New Jersey Nets. So if Lebron goes to the Knicks, it’s because he loves “Do the Right Thing” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” not “Empire State of Mind.”
Actually, the announcement is going to come in the first 10 minutes of the 1 hour special.
No, it will come at approx. 6:55 EST to keep the viewing audience. But who cares. Lakers will three-peat anyway!
Make that 6:55 PST/9:55 EST.
Just making a guess there huh? Because it’s being widely reported that it will happen in the first 10 minutes.
ugh, you gotta be kidding me. you couldn’t pay me to watch that crap. i’ll hit SI.com at 9:15pm and move on.
What did donald sterning bring to the table? That’s what I want to know
What did sterling bring to the table?
Sterling? Clippers? Kidding me?
Overrated…wake me when he wins a title.
If this is overkill, what is Keeping Up with the Kardashians?
He loves the exposure because he is all about building a brandname, but without a championship, he is setting himself up to be the most overrated player of all time. Wonder if his Mom will be moving with him?
How does this fill an hour anyway?
You know Yahoo Sports, who’ve been breaking some pretty good stories (USC sports scandal among others) probably is trying their best to scoop the story. That would be huge to see someone bust it open before hand. And you know ESPN has told their reporters NOT to pursue the information and break/tweet it before the show… which I think is total BS…
Did just about everyone miss this in the last sentence? “. . .James is doing it for a good cause: proceeds from The Decision will be donated to Boys & Girls Club of America.”
No one finds that worthy of comment? Says more about the posters/whiners here than it does about LeBron. He’s a better man than most of y’all and that has nothing to do with basketball.
LeBron is doing this for his favorite cause – himself. If could have pulled off this infomercial and kept the cash he would have. But the outcry would have been overwhelming and hurt his “brand”.
Why aren’t you reporting that the proceeds from the ad time purchased will benefit “The Boys and Girls Club”?
You mean his agent set up the proceeds event…that’s what agents do. They spin their client to look like GOD and this is what he is doing. Not saying it’s a bad thing, just that I highly doubt it was Lebron’s idea. It’s the agents and probably ESPN to deflect criticism of the Event/non event.
My guess: The remaining 45 minutes of the special will be devoted to reports gauging reactions from the city LeBron winds up in and cities whose teams lost out, as well as commentary and analysis.