An Ohio pub owner who banned airing NBA games in his establishment until LeBron James is “expelled” from the league said he has received positive feedback and more customers since the announcement.
“The support for the position has been overwhelmingly positive and has far outweighed the negatives,” Jay Linneman, the owner of Linnie’s Pub, said. “I hope people channel the support to law enforcement and not necessarily to Linnie’s Pub.”
The support has also spread to other parts of Cincinnati, including at a gas station a few miles from the pub.
“Hey LeBron, the West Side thanks you. Linne’s has never been busier,” a sign hanging at the gas station reads.
The increase in customers comes after Linneman posted that Linnie’s won’t air NBA games as long as James is still in the league after his controversial comments on police.
“If anyone wants to watch an NBA game, don’t come to Linnie’s Pub,” he wrote on Facebook, referencing controversy surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers star. “We will not air them until Lebron James has been expelled from the NBA.”
James responded to the announcement by mocking it on Twitter: “Aww Damn! I was headed there to watch our game tonight and have a drink! Welp.”
The NBA star was hit with accusations of inciting violence last week after he posted a tweet of the Ohio police officer who shot Ma’Khia Bryant, who charged at two people with a knife, with the caption, “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.”
He later deleted the tweet, saying that it was “being used to create more hate.”
Linneman, meanwhile, has argued that basketball players “just need to play the game and that’s it” and that “their opinion doesn’t really matter.”
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The contact section for Linnie’s website was also recently updated for people who “feel the need to use vile or threatening language,” directing them to a website about hell and redemption. It also asks people to specify if they support law enforcement when contacting the bar.
