LaVar Balls Stays in National Spotlight with CNN Special

Courtesy of USA Today

The sports world's most polarizing father is continuing to make headlines, and the media is continuing to his every move. LaVar Ball made national headlines this weekend, stirring up drama with President Trump. And now, an outlet bigger than ESPN is hosting him and his side of the story: CNN.
The latest chapter of the Ball family saga started when LiAngelo Ball and two other UCLA Basketball players were arrested on a team trip to China for shoplifting. The country's strict judicial system had the visitors set for five to ten years in jail for their crimes.

President Trump, who happened to be touring Asia at the time and found himself in China, specifically requested a special resolution on the matter from Chinese President Xi Jingping.

Apparently, the request was heard and well-received as the players were allowed to return to the United States, where they would be suspended indefinitely by UCLA. 

At this point, President Trump tweeted "Do you think the three UCLA Basketball players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!"

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

In a press conference, LiAngelo Ball and his teammates did just that. The UCLA freshman told the media:

“I would like to thank President Trump and the United States government for the help they provided. I am grateful to be back home and I will never make a mistake like this again. I am extremely sorry for those that I let down,”

The end of a story that crossed the sports and political worlds? Not quite.

When father LaVar was asked for comment on Trump's involvement in the quick resolution for his son, Ball was far from grateful. "Who? What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out." Ball said in an interview with ESPN on Sunday.

President Trump responded on Twitter later that day.

Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar. Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017

Now, the feud will be further fueled by mainstream media, with CNN picking up the story and hosting him at 10 PM ET.

Why is this sports news, yet alone national news? After all, LaVar Ball is not an actual sports figure, and no other father garners this much coverage.

But the media has been covering Ball, and his sons, especially Lakers rookie Lonzo, almost religiously. The fact of the matter is: people are eating this up whether they like it or not.

You know what they say: "any publicity is good publicity." This couldn't be more true for the Ball family. Love them or hate them, people are clicking on articles about them, watching interviews with them. The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most covered teams in the NBA this season thanks to Lonzo's arrival.

"The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most covered teams in the NBA this season thanks to Lonzo's arrival" (AP Photo)

Chalk it up to the Kardashian effect, the media's obsession with polarizing figures that drive traffic. Is it the highest quality of journalism? That's up for debate. but as long as articles and videos about the Ball family continue to get hits, the media will keep covering it.

LaVar's appearance on CNN will be a breakthrough from mainly sports media to a mainstream news network. Whatever Ball says tonight, it will have a huge built-in audience and surely resonate through media afterwards due to the national platform.

Say what you will about the play of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball or of the nonstop coverage of LaVar's Ball's antics. But as long as fans continue to comment on and view Ball family content at such a high rate, the coverage won't die down anytime soon.