Someone at the ESPN graphics department is going to get an earful from their boss this week as a broadcast of a college basketball game misidentified the NFL Hall of Famer who was in attendance.
During today’s game between Cincinnati and UCF, an ESPN graphic highlighted Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James, who was at the game to support his son, Bearcats freshman guard Jizzle James. But there was one problem: They highlighted the wrong person.
Rather than have the cameras pointed at James, who was sitting courtside for the game, the graphic was instead placed over a random person in the crowd who bore no resemblance to the Hall of Fame running back whatsoever.
See for yourself:
Going out on a limb and confirming this is not Edgerrin James😬#Bearcats pic.twitter.com/JPqL64FkAM
— Russ Heltman (@russheltman11) February 17, 2024
Worse still, ESPN apparently never actually found James in the crowd once during the game.
As you might imagine, fans had all kinds of fun with this gaffe:
“He was at the game. Not sure why they showed this guy haaaa,” one user replied.
“Lmao no way these people put this man on tv as Edgerrin James Dad I’m crying,” wrote another.
“Was a quick realization as soon as that random guy was shown lol,” a third user wrote.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bearcats radio voice Dan Hoard said he had no problem identifying James in the crowd.
“For what it’s worth, the real Edgerrin James was sitting courtside across from the #Bearcats bench. He was not difficult to locate,” Hoard wrote.
James was a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the best running backs of the 2000s as a member of the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
At least the Bearcats won the game. James has to be happy about that.