Member of Ball Family: “Lavar still has not allowed his kids to see their sick mother due to the media attention it would bring, and cause brand sales to diminish”
"Where is Tina Ball?" A member of the Ball family tells Armchair that Lavar Ball is preventing his children from seeing their mother battling a stroke due to the potentially negative distractions.
By
Andrew Stephens -
March 16, 2017
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Source: Two Plus Two Forum
There is an old adage in sports media that says, “You have to tell stories to get stories.” Yesterday, Armchair found that out in a rather interesting way.
On March 15, I ran an article titled:
Lavar Ball: The epitome of what is wrong with modern sports. It touched on helicopter parenting and the monetization of potentially profitable children. Without commenting on upbringing tactics, I attempted to delve into Lavar Ball’s seemingly unnecessary promotion of his own sons for his personal benefit.
About an hour after the article was run, I received a comment on it from a member of the Ball family, who wishes to remain anonymous. The comment (which has since been removed to protect the email address and identity of the commenter) read as follows:
-“Wow. You nailed it. Although you don’t even know the half of it. Lavar took over the high school program, added the Coach, his puppet (which is why he quit last year after becoming the national coach of the year) and Lavar stepped on and crushed countless other kids’ careers and love for the game to get his kids on the court. If you are allowed to shoot at any time from any where and never come out of the game, any decent idiot could score 30 points.
Also, Tina Ball, his wife had a stroke on Feb 21. She had life threatening skull surgery to relieve brain pressure – guess where Lavar was during the operation that could have killed his wife? – at the CHHS vs. LB Poly game with his sons, including Lonzo. He still has not allowed his kids to see their sick mother due to the media attention it would bring to him, and cause BBB sales to diminish. [Name of hospital] in [City of hospital], CA – Tina is there now and he only visits for 1 hour a few days a week, while her Mother has yet to leave her side. Pathetic!!!”
I was a bit skeptical when I initially viewed the comment. I figured that it was someone attempting to drive a smear campaign against the Ball family, seeing how Lavar was such a polarizing figure. But, the information was oddly specific.
After a bit of deliberation, I contacted the email address listed with the comment. They confirmed through multiple email and social media confirmations that they were, in fact, a close relative of Lavar and Tina Ball. I also spoke with the hospital listed in the email. The hospital confirmed that Tina Ball was checked in as of 12:30PM EST on March 15.
Tina, who was very active on Twitter, stopped communication on February 19, which fits in to the timeline provided below by a member of the Ball family.
When confirming the identity of the member of the Ball family that commented via email, we received another large piece of harrowing information:
“Notice, she is not at any games, she is not at work, and she is not at home. Someone needs to ask the question, where is Tina? She is severely disabled and paralyzed on right side. Cannot talk and is questionable about her comprehension. Left side of her brain impacted with massive stroke, while at home on Feb. 21 (school holiday – President’s day). Tina is a PE teacher in [City of school],CA [Name of school].
Feb. 20: Tina Ball admitted at [Name of first hospital] ICU
Feb. 21: Surgery to remove a portion of her skull to reduce swelling from the stroke (evening)
Feb 21: Chino Hills vs LB Poly @ Cerritos College – evening game (same time as surgery) Lavar & Lonzo at the game with the other Ball boys – missed the surgery and post op. Did not come to hospital during or after surgery.
The Ball boys are not allowed to see their mother, Lavar is afraid it will take away from their game(s). Lonzo had big game at ASU and U of A later that week. Also, media buzz would take away from all the interviews and media touring for Lavar + BBB brand would suffer. It literally is bigger than Tina’s life, as evidenced by Lavar’s approach.
As a family member, I am embarrassed and feel so sorry for Tina, since Lavar is on a media tour, he visits her rarely, while her mother has stayed by her side continuously.”
The crux of the original story was rooted in that fact that Lavar Ball’s priorities were self-motivated and not for the betterment of a “family brand.” After hearing the explicit details given to us, if these allegations are true – it only confirms one thing for Lavar Ball: money and fame are king.
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9:46 PM - 6 Feb 2017
If family comes first, kids should be with their mother, not with their basketball teams in times of tragedy.
At the end of the day, when the lights go out in the gym, the trophies collect dust, and the championship seasons begin to run together – it’s not basketball, cars, or shoes that stands the test of time. It’s family.
We wish the Ball family nothing but the best as they deal with these tumultuous circumstances.
We will follow this story as it progresses.
