According to USA Today, ESPN is pulling NBA analyst Jalen Rose from broadcast because he waited almost three weeks before telling the network that he was arrested for DUI in Michigan.
The Sporting News writes that the decision from ESPN came from ESPN’s ombudsmen from the Poynter Institute, Kelly McBride and Regina McCombs, published a report this week that said Rose compromised the network by not being forthcoming, which allowed a different media outlet—WDIV in Detroit—to break the news about his arrest.
ESPN originally learned about the arrest when Rose’s agent made a phone call to Laurie Orlando, an ESPN executive, on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ve been pretty clear since last year when we had a pretty long meeting with all the talent,” Orlando told Poynter. “We said to them we need you to disclose your situations. I know Jalen was here in house for those conversations.”
By not reporting the story first ESPN is afraid that a perception is created that the network favors it’s own on air talent.
“Jalen has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Both parties are taking this very seriously, and as a result, we’ve agreed that he will not be on our air while he addresses this situation,” said ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz wrote in an email to USA Today. Rose is scheduled to appear in court on April 20.
