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“So Mean to Me”: Laughing Off a Furious LeBron James DM End Up Costing Her Job, Alleges Ex-ESPN Host

Published 10/11/2023, 12:10 AM EDT

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Have you ever wondered how powerful is LeBron James? Well, powerful enough to get someone fired apparently. At least according to former “NBA Countdown” host Michelle Beadle. She got a real taste of what happens when you cross the King – the full unleashing of his wrath. 

For the unversed, in 2010, LeBron was deciding between resigning with his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers or making a move. One of his top choices was Miami Heat. He announced his decision during an hour-long special program on ESPN titled “The Decision”. And Beadle had made fun of this move, which she alleges, had gotten her sacked.  

Why you should never mess with James

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While speaking to the ‘Awful Announcing’ podcast, the San Antonio Spurs broadcaster revealed she found out the reason only after she was fired was due to her criticisms. “In all the chaos that ensued after I left, all this other information started coming out. I kind of got wind of it as I was leaving. And then more stuff came out and I was just like, ‘What a crap show.’”

It seems like this is still a sore spot for Michelle as it is not the first time she’s speaking on it. Last year, while appearing on ‘The Sessions’ podcast with Renee Paquette, she also spoke on this saying, “I made fun of The Decision, and I was one of about a bazillion people that did”. 

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This, she claims, led to James reaching out to her. “It was hilarious, and I remember I got a DM that was like, ‘Why are you so mean to me on television?’ And I just sort of laughed it off. I didn’t even think about it.” Well, maybe she should have because Lebron proved her and all his critics wrong with his stellar performance with Heat.

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The beginning of the Superteam Era

Just a day before the ESPN special fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade also announced that they would sign with Miami. This is considered by many as the first player-created NBA superteam. Some other superteams are the 2014-15 Los Angeles Clippers, who had Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin, and the 2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder, which included Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. 

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LeBron’s time with Miami saw him win two back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. He also received the NBA Finals MVP during this time. Later, in 2014 he would move back to Cleveland. He helped the team end their championship drought with a win in 2016. With his next move to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, Lebron was able to nab another championship, his fourth. Will this new season be a chance for the King to win a fifth one? Guess we’ll just have to wait and watch.

Watch this story : Born in the Same Hospital as Stephen Curry, LeBron James’ Lesser Known Connection to Taylor Swift’s New Love Travis Kelce Unveiled

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Written by:

Ruth John S

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Ruth John S is an NBA author at EssentiallySports. With a profound love for the written word, she pursued English as her major for both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, laying the foundation for her exceptional storytelling skills. Her passion for journalism only enhanced her creative endeavor.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe