Jim Gray Reportedly Pockets 500K for The Decision

There was a lot of anger in the aftermath of The Decision this July.  In an instant, LeBron became despised around the world.  ESPN was mocked and chided for being a willing partner in the shameful dog and pony show.  Jim Gray, weasel, was not spared the brunt of the media’s criticism and anger with the whole distasteful endeavor.  Mistakes were made by everyone.

Gray already had the reputation of being a conniving and contemptible “reporter.”  The idea for the show was reportedly proposed to LeBron’s people after discussions between Ari Emanuel and Gray hatched the idea.  Gray maintained that he received only a “small stipend” for his role in the show and that only his expenses were covered by ESPN.  A recent report, which flew under the radar and is now only getting some publicity this week, states that Gray was paid $500,000 dollars to “host” the show.

In the days following the decision, I compiled a list of the blistering critiques floating around the internet. It included rants and raves about both LeBron and ESPN.  One of the intrepid media reporters and critics that I cited was Tom Hoffarth.  Hoffarth is once again the man opening up the discussion on the seediness of the show and where all the “proceeds” were eventually funneled.  His year in review column had this little nugget:

In one smelled swoop, “The Decision” solidified the jack-wagon status of Jim Gray (who reportedly made $500,000 for the ringmaster appearance), planted seeds of doubt in anything ESPN subsequently reported, laid the groundwork for some of the most obscenely overblown coverage in league history, inspired a self-serving Nike commercial and, in the words of ESPN ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer, became “a metaphor for what ails the media today.”

Sports Illustrated media reporter Richard Deitsch picked up on Hoffarth’s report, tweeting,  “Looking forward to the day (in retirement?) my ESPN pr pals opine on Hoffarth writing Jim Gray might have pocketed $500K for The Decision…”  It’s certainly a new revelation that adds another level of disgust.

Sports by Brooks put together a chronological collection of the accounting statements and clarifications made on how much was going to what charity.  There is apparently a $500,000 discrepancy based on what ESPN and LeBron’s people have confirmed was donated to charities.  Hoffarth did not delve too deep into Gray’s windfall sum other than to just mention it in passing. (Update:  Brooks has confirmed with Hoffarth that he has verified sources that Gray did receive 500K.  ESPN is maintaining that they just paid his travel expenses.)

Gray had an eventful summer which included The Decision, verbally (and, debatably, physically) abusing the United States Ryder Cup captain and his wife, and melting into a blubbering case of emotions at Floyd Little’s HOF induction in Canton.  If a “small stipend” to Gray is a quick 500k payout, then I don’t know anything about the world in which I live anymore.  I can live in a world where The Situation makes $3M a year but Jim Gray, a man who engendered sympathy for Pete Rose, cannot be making this kind of money.  It’s all so wrong.