ESPN reporter loses it when he's banned from interviewing Ball family
LaVar Ball and his family are not ones to shy away from media attention — that is, unless it involves ESPN reporter Jeff Goodman.
On the most recent episode of the Facebook series “Ball in the Family,” Goodman was notified that his access to the family would be cut off because of a supposed “huge breach of trust” he committed.
And as you can see in the video below, Goodman did not take the news too well.
As noted by USA Today, Goodman was sent to Lithuania to cover LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball’s professional debuts.
The brothers took questions from reporters after the game.
However, after the media scrum ended, Goodman attempted to gain special access to the Balls and ask a few questions of his own.
That’s when he was promptly shut down by their representatives, Alan Foster and Harrison Gaines.
Foster told Goodman he was being prevented access to the family due to an article that he had written regarding comments LaVar had made about Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton.
Foster said the elder Ball’s comments that Walton had lost the locker room were off the record, but Goodman chose to report them anyway.
The story created a major backlash for the Ball family with various coaches — including Golden State’s Steve Kerr — criticizing LaVar’s comments.
Steve Kerr weighs in on LaVar Ball, ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ZOExLlCn9W
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 9, 2018
Goodman insisted the comments weren’t off the record.
However, Foster and Gaines disputed that, and prevented him from asking any further questions to LaMelo and LiAngelo.
“That wasn’t cool what you did. It wasn’t cool, and I’m calling you on it,” Foster said. “Don’t be trying to be sneaky with your interviews.”
Gaines confirmed he had asked Goodman not to report the remarks.
“Your man said it,” Goodman declared.
“And you’re the one who put it out there,” Foster responded.
“Damn right I did,” Goodman said.
“Well, that’s why you’re not interviewing the boys,” Foster said.
“I don’t give a f—,” Goodman said.
“You to give a f— or you wouldn’t be talking about it,” Foster countered.
LaVar said he will never talk to Goodman again.
“You will regret it for the rest of your life,” Ball said.
USA Today’s Andrew Joseph said Foster, Gaines and the entire Ball camp were the ones in the wrong.
“LaVar said those remarks about Walton, and as a reporter, Goodman reported it,” Joseph wrote. “It’s on LaVar to refrain from saying outlandish on-the-record comments to reporters if he doesn’t want to deal with the backlash.”
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