Dan Le Batard has expressed uncertainty regarding the honesty of both the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler over the past few months. In the wake of the recent trade that sent the six-time All-Star to the Golden State Warriors, Le Batard took issue with how one particular incident was characterized.
In a piece published after the trade, The Athletic’s James Jackson, Sam Amick, and Jon Krawczynski covered the events leading to Butler’s departure from South Beach. A viral detail revealed that Heat president Pat Riley became emotional while attempting to connect with Butler over their shared experience of losing their fathers. “According to multiple league sources with knowledge of the meeting, tears welled in Riley’s eyes as he attempted to connect with Butler on a human level,” the report noted. Despite his vulnerability, this did not resonate with Butler, who reportedly perceived Riley’s emotions as ‘unhinged.’ Following the meeting, Butler left more convinced than ever that he required a new basketball environment, prompting Riley to acknowledge the meeting’s unfortunate outcome and his increased motivation to facilitate the trade.
In a recent episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Le Batard addressed the portrayal of Riley. He criticized the notion that a man crying is a sign of weakness, stating, “The idea of using crying to depict male weakness — that is so weak. Honestly. Like the idea that what is male is to repress the feelings, push them down, and not show anyone that you’re hurt about the death of your father.” He continued to emphasize that it’s harmful to expect men to hide their emotions rather than express them, particularly in sensitive situations such as this one.
While Le Batard’s connection with Riley may influence his defense, he emphasizes his advocacy for mental health beyond just the Heat organization. He argues that there is nothing truly “unhinged” about a 79-year-old man expressing emotion while trying to connect with someone over shared grief. The manner in which this anecdote was used highlights the tensions surrounding the circumstances, which have proven to be quite tumultuous.
