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ESPN abruptly dumps salacious LeBron James party story (UPDATED with ESPN response)

Jul 28, 2010, 11:45 AM EDT

226 Comments

If you were reading a rather provocative ESPN story about LeBron James partying at a Las Vegas night club, and now you’re not, there’s a reason for that. ESPN yanked the story off the Internets after only a few minutes of life. The piece by Arash Markazi, which actually appeared on ESPN’s Los Angeles affiliate site, tells of a Roman banquet-style blowout following James’ announcement of his move to Miami. As tell-all stories about a night with an NBA superstar go, this one was pretty tremendous. Excerpts:

A security guard comes over and puts plastic wristbands on our wrists and escorts us through the back of the restaurant, up a flight of stairs in the bowels of the hotel and through a back entrance into the club. About a dozen security guards, moving their flash lights, direct us to a roped off section on the dance floor of Tao next to a couple of apparently nude women in a bathtub full of water and rose petals.

Bottle after bottle of “Ace of Spades” champagne is delivered to the table by a waiter flying down from above the dance floor like some overgrown Peter Pan on a wire. One time he’s dressed like a King, another time as Indiana Jones and another in a replica of James’ No. 6 Miami Heat jersey.

James, who can hardly see the flying figure through his tinted glasses, almost gets kicked in the head on the waiter’s last trip down. He looks at the girls around him and says, “I wish they’d have one of these girls with no panties do that instead of the guy.”

Toward the end of the night, Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis walks past James’ party and looks at the scene up and down several times like a painting in a museum, soaking in the images of the go-go dancers, the “King” sign and the costumed man delivering bottles of champagne.

Davis shakes his head and walks on.

UPDATE: ESPN response following the jump.

Five security guards are stationed around him, one at each corner of the table he’s about to sit at and another roving around with him, watching his every move. Anyone who takes two steps toward James is stopped and must have James’ approval to come closer.

The waiter bringing him his cup of green tea with a spoonful of honey and a dash of lemon juice makes the cut, as does the scantily clad brunette with a tattoo of a heart on her right shoulder.

She wants to take a picture with him. “I can’t right now,” says James. “Maybe later, upstairs, I’ll remember you’re the one with the tattoo.”

Even though ESPN immediately moved to spike the story, the HTML version soon came out. Here it is (click to enlarge), thanks to the efforts of such people as Matthew LaWell and Chris Littman, two of several who posted links on their Twitter accounts. As the blog Waiting For Next Year points out, “The Internet always wins.”

Carter, LeBron’s childhood friend and manager, begins dancing around James like Puff Daddy in a Notorious B.I.G video. A giant red crown-shaped cake is brought over to James while go-go dancers dressed in skimpy red and black outfits raise four lettered placards that spell out, “KING.” Carter grabs a bottle of Grey Goose and pours a quarter of it on the floor and raises it up before passing it off.

ESPN heavily invested in James with The Decision show, all the while insisting that there had been no blurring of the line between producing the TV spectacle and reporting the story. But now it appears that there may be a conflict of interest at play; Markazi’s eyewitness account doesn’t exactly show LeBron in the best light. He’s a somewhat-married father of two, after all. Literally wading in Grey Goose? Waiters floating on wires? Naked chicks in bathtubs? Caligula is wondering if his invitation got lost in the mail.
Did the LeBron camp send orders to ESPN to yank the story? I’ve contacted ESPN for a response, and have heard only that they’re “looking into it.”
UPDATE: ESPN responds. In an email to Out of Bounds, an ESPN spokesman wrote:

“The story should have never been published. The draft was inadvertently put on the server before going through the usual editorial process. We are in the midst of looking into the matter.”

UPDATE: From Sports Business Daily:

James’ reps confirmed ESPN’s statement that removing the article was an editorial decision, telling CNBC that they had no say in the matter. As of presstime, Markazi had not commented on the matter nor posted anything on his Twitter account in more than 24 hours.

***
ESPN Mysteriously Pulls LeBron James Las Vegas Tell-All [Wait For Next Year]
A Kid in King James’ court [ESPNLosAngeles.com]

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226 Comments (Feed for Comments)
  1. BRAD - Jul 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM

    I give him 2 years before his butt is in front of a judge facing jail time!

  2. Jim E. - Jul 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM

    Queen James makes another poor decision. The correct one would be to kick out all of the people and get in the tub with those two women.
    Something interesting that could happen: His girlfriend and mother of his two kids (I think), has been with him since high school. I’m wondering if there is still a common law in which you are considered married after so long a time. If so, wouldn’t it be neat if she decides to swoop in and take a chunk of his change.

  3. Tom - Jul 28, 2010 at 11:39 PM

    Isn’t he engaged to the mother of his 2 children. Not sure, but if he is I’d think she might think this story was a big deal.

  4. Mark - Jul 28, 2010 at 11:51 PM

    Why would anyone want to be a celebraty? Umm…ever. I mean, seriously look at all the people on this site who are seething at the opportunity to tarnish A BASKETBALL PLAYERS image. I mean seriously, there are people at this instant who are defiling and raping our countries soil in some hideous way. I don’t think George W. Bush got this much bad press. Oh wait I mentioned a politician, I must be politicizing this. I must be a Democrat. Seriously, you’re all pawns to the same scheme.

  5. akrandy - Jul 29, 2010 at 1:26 AM

    The point I am getting form the story is ESPN is in his “pocket” They are censoring the information that gets out about him!! Like the media is doing all the time! The media is full of big liars.

  6. AZ Lady - Jul 29, 2010 at 1:50 AM

    Great point. Hope others notice it.

  7. Cherub Rock - Jul 29, 2010 at 4:57 AM

    Why does every *** feel inclined to correct the grammar and spelling of news stories? Get over yourself and shut up already!!

  8. Johnny zed - Jul 29, 2010 at 7:09 AM

    Sports News is like entertainment news, kissing ass and puff pieces about the stars of the moment who can do no wrong till thye shot themselves in the foot with a public display of stupidity. Tiger Woods, Roethlisberge, etc. were all golden boys in the sports press till their own failings were too much to be kept hidden. The sports press always knows about, but never mentions these hedonistic tendencies at the time because they know the public does not want to hear about till they miss expectations in their sport. It is the status quo. Lebron is a spoiled egotistical jerk, does come as much of a surprise.

  9. Jim - Jul 29, 2010 at 8:15 AM

    You said………edge like way to many of the other “superstars”. That is supposed to be …..too many of…… If you are going to comment on grammar and spelling then get your own right.

  10. Skids - Jul 29, 2010 at 8:16 AM

    To all you libs, your boy Gore invented it.

  11. Shnazzle - Jul 29, 2010 at 8:45 AM

    Here’s some logic for you: The Internet is an American Invention. Al Gore is an American. Therefore… Al Gore connects to the Internet through America Online.
    All this article did was make me want to hit Tao next time I’m in Vegas.

  12. DirkDiggler - Jul 29, 2010 at 8:52 AM

    UM…FYI, this article said his “somewhat” wife. Which clearly leads to the point it is his baby mamma, not actual wife. Relax and pull yourself together skippy, and stop using “FYI”, what is this, the 70′s?

  13. Russ - Jul 29, 2010 at 8:54 AM

    Oh my, who knew that a young professional athlete with more new wealth than Croesus could ever act irresponsibly. I think I’ll just go slash my wrists right now at the shock of this completely unexpected and stunning news.

  14. Nic Geerz - Jul 29, 2010 at 9:14 AM

    MAVERICK CARTER/SEAN”PUFF DADDY”COMBS = FUC@#NG CLOWNS

  15. earn_the_crown - Jul 29, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Al Gore looks like he ate the Internet and his Peace Prize. All y’all get off Lebricks back because apparently Dwest has been calling his grandmother.

  16. RJV - Jul 29, 2010 at 9:54 AM

    PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    FINALLY – SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THAT ALL OF THIS CRAP IS THE MEDIA’S DOING. IF THEY WOULD NOT BE SUCH WHORES ABOUT EVERY STORY ON LEBRON OR ANY OTHER SPORTS FIGURE – THEN MAYBE, JUST MAYBE – THEY WOULD GET SOME RESPECT! ESPN IS NOTHING BUT A 2-BIT PACK OF MONEY HUNGRY, BUTT KISSNG WRITERS THAT FEED OFF OF EVERY BIT OF “GOSSIP OR RUMORS” THEY CAN FIND….THEY ARE SPORTS PAPARAZZI!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. change the status quo - Jul 29, 2010 at 10:32 AM

    Not defending the actions of Lebron James, but the reality is that some of you expect the man to be perfect. He made a bad decision with the “decision” but cut him some slack he is only a 25 year old young man, his maturity level hasn’t exactly reached it’s zenith.
    How many of you at 25 were wise enough to make perfect decisions all the time. Hyprocrites!!!….
    Even if it was a publicity stunt…the procedes from the “decision” did go to help young people from the Boys and Girls club.
    How many of you who sit back and judge has had sex out of wedlock? How many of you watch porn when no one is watching?
    How many of you lie, cheat, slander, gossip, harbor hate?
    How many of you have ever done anything to help those who are less fortunate?
    The double standards you display is a pradigm of the cruel condition of your own heart. You would think some of the people posting on here was God himself, fortunately they are not and need to examine themselves before condeming Lebron James.
    As Americans we breed these athletes from a young age…there is an entire population of chidren being farmed in basketball gyms and football fields…hoping by their coaches and parents that they become superstars.
    Again I restate that our american culture has created the ego of the 21st century american athlete. We build these kids up to become icons and superstars but when they dont fit our prestine idea of what we want them to be….we tare them down.
    Most of you would do way worse if you had the money that this young man has.

  18. NBA Fun! - Jul 29, 2010 at 11:09 AM

    Kobe is a rapist and LeBron is a jackass. Most of the players are some sort of thug. Welcome to the NBA!!!!!

  19. Shnazzle - Jul 29, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    I want to hit Tao next time I am in Vegas and suck on Lebron’s ****. I love Lebron’s **** and I WILL suck it!!!

  20. Brian - Jul 29, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    It doesn’t say he’s married, it says, “He’s a somewhat-married father of two”. He’s lives with and has been in a relationship with the mother of his children for over 5 years.

  21. Brian - Jul 29, 2010 at 11:54 AM

    It doesn’t say he’s married, it says, “He’s a somewhat-married father of two”. He’s lives with and has been in a relationship with the mother of his children for over 5 years.

  22. moose - Jul 29, 2010 at 12:05 PM

    Naked girls in bathtubs is the norm at Tao. I’ve been several times and they are always there, however you can’t tell for sure if they are naked or not…

  23. BC - Jul 29, 2010 at 12:33 PM

    The article is still available on the web. Here’s a link:
    https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzRY0yltRz9ANzc5OWEyN2YtZjM2Yy00NmFjLWE4MWYtNmFlN2JiZDRmNWFi&hl=en&pli=1

  24. Dan S - Jul 29, 2010 at 1:10 PM

    The big story is ESPN, and their attempt to cover up or bury the story. Who made the decision, why would a sports (news) outlet get into cover up and censorship? The whole exclusive made for TV media event, money, fear, doesn’t go well with true journalism.

  25. J - Jul 29, 2010 at 2:44 PM

    I cannot believe there are two hundred comments to something that at best is not a story and at worst is just another boy in a bar with money. Oh hell, I just joined in. Geez, we are all dumb!

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