Heat to stay on Bally Sports. And Stephen A. Smith’s odd reaction to Le Batard interview
While the Florida Panthers are moving their games to over-the-air television, the Miami Heat intends to remain with Bally Sports Sun.
That decision was cemented this week when Diamond Sports, which owns 19 Bally regional networks, agreed to a global agreement with the NBA.
That agreement must be signed off by a bankruptcy judge who is handling Diamond’s bankruptcy filing, but that is considered a formality.
The Heat had no immediate comment, but a network source confirmed a deal between the Heat and Bally Sports Sun.
“We are appreciative of the ongoing collaboration and long-term partnerships with the NBA and NHL,” David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports Group, said in a staement.
“These new agreements that cover NBA and NHL linear and DTC rights are another major milestone and continue Diamond’s momentum toward emergence, which will enable us to provide value for our NBA and NHL partners and continue to serve dedicated local NBA, NHL and MLB fans.
“Having completed negotiations with key partners that provide certainty around our content and distribution, Diamond is well positioned for the future. With the support of our creditors, we are focused on finalizing our reorganization plan to support our emergence and presenting that plan to the Court in due course.”
Eric Reid and John Crotty are expected back as the Heat’s TV announcers. Bally Sports Sun is expected to carry as many as 81 games; a Jan. 23 game at Milwaukee is exclusive to TNT.
While the Heat intends to stay on Bally, the Panthers bolted in July, moving their games to WSFL-39 in South Florida.
The move to shift games was initiated by the Panthers, but the Panthers framed it as a mutual decision because it required Bally to authorize the dissolution of their multiyear contract.
The 70-game Panthers television package also will air on WHDT TV (Channel 9) in West Palm Beach and an undisclosed station in Fort Myers.
Mark Zarthar, the Panthers’ chief strategy officer, said the switch was made to increase the team’s accessibility and visibility.
“We are available in every household with a television now,” he said. “We will now be available in over 2.6 million households in Miami Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers. We are available in every household with a television now. Viewership doubled in Las Vegas when they went [from cable] to an over-the-air structure.”
TAGOVAILOA/LeBATARD REACTION
Stephen A. Smith’s theory that Dan Le Batard conspired with Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins to criticize Brian Flores this week seems at the very least a stretch, if not patently absurd.
To recap, Tagovailoa described his two years with Flores this way: “If you woke up every morning and I told you that you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this.
“And then you have somebody else come in and tell you ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this. You are accurate. You are the best whatever. You are this. You are that.’ How would it make you feel listening to one or another?”
On “First Take” this week, Smith accused Le Batard of being in cahoots with Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in an attempt to discredit Flores, who has a pending lawsuit against the team.
“I don’t think it’s an accident that Tua said what he said when he said it. I don’t think it’s an accident that Dan Le Batard asked him when he asked him,” Smith said. “Dan Le Batard does his show in Miami. Dan Le Batard lives in Miami. Dan Le Batard is in Miami all day, every day, all the time. And now is when you ask that question? That ain’t no damn accident.”
Smith then added: “I could be wrong. I don’t know. I’m speculating openly and openly admit that. I’m just watching it because as a scribe, as a reporter long before I became a pundit, I’ve been in this business for 30 years now. I’ve seen it. And I know most of the time, again you connect dots….
“When you got a case pending against you, you’re looking for an advantage. Tua provided it. Brian Flores didn’t knock it down. I’m saying that’s the reality. What comes of it? I have no idea. But that is the reality.”
Le Batard denied he was in cahoots with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa or anyone. Suggesting this was a planned attack, with the Dolphins’ involvement, is quite a conspiracy theory.
Far more likely is this: Le Batard, with sharp, probing questions, makes his guests feel comfortable, and Tagovailoa spontaneously decided to speak more candidly and critically about Flores than he ever has.
But Tagovailoa’s comments could ultimately damage Flores’ attempts to win his lawsuit, which claims racial discrimination was behind his firing.
“From a legal perspective, his comments would support the Dolphins’ argument that there were legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for his termination,” sports attorney Chris Deubert told Front Office Sports’ Daniel Kaplan:
“If the matter proceeded to trial or an arbitration, Tua would be an excellent witness for the team. From a public relations perspective, the comments also clearly make Flores look less sympathetic, which may reduce the pressure on the NFL to resolve the matter.”
