“The more you hang around James, the more you realize he’s still a child wrapped in a 6-foot-8, 250-pound frame,” Markazi wrote, according to screengrabs posted on various fan websites.
The article was posted at 9:40 a.m. ET but was pulled shortly thereafter.
That meant it was suddenly more difficult for fans to read about James flirting with Las Vegas cocktail waitresses and fake-dribbling across casinos.
Though constantly surrounded by an entourage of security, family and longtime friends, he was disappointed when a club offered him a male waiter.
“I wish they’d have one of those girls with no panties do that instead of the guy,” he said as a waiter delivered another bottle of vodka.
Even fellow basketball players seemed shocked at James’ behavior.
In one nightclub, Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis walked past James’ group and surveyed the area “like a painting in a museum, soaking in the images of the go-go dancers ... and the costumed man delivering bottles of champagne.”
Davis shook his head, and moved on.
It would not be the first time ESPN has flirted with controversy when it comes to James. Its own internal watchdog blasted the sports network for what he said were ethical missteps in its recent broadcast of a program devoted to the star’s signing with the Miami heat.
"ESPN made some major mistakes handling the entire affair," said Don Ohlmeyer, the journalism watchdog, or ombudsman. "ESPN should never have traded (advertising) inventory for access or allowed a subject to select his inquisitor."
A call to ESPN’s communications line was not returned late Wednesday. A spokesman told CNBC “the story should never have been published.”
It was not immediately clear whether a different version would be posted to the website later.
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