Dan Dakich suspended from ESPN's The Fan for not adhering to 'journalistic principles'
Dana Hunsinger BenbowDan Dakich, the former IU player and coach-turned radio show host, has been suspended from his afternoon sports talk show.
Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications, which owns ESPN affiliate WFNI The Fan, said Dakich is off air this week due to "a failure last year on Dan's part to adhere to the journalistic principles valued by Emmis."
Emmis declined to further elaborate on the cause for the disciplinary action taken against Dakich, 57, and he did not respond to a text message from the IndyStar asking for comment on his 5-day suspension.
On his radio show's page, Dakich describes his approach: "Opinions about everything, afraid of nothing."
He goes on to say, "This show takes no prisoners and does not suffer fools. Decades of experience in major college basketball, and a (R)olodex to match. The big names visit this show. Passionate about Indiana basketball, the Chicago Cubs, the lovely Leigh Ross-Dakich, and his kids."
As "The Dan Dakich Show" began Monday -- it airs noon to 3 p.m. weekdays on 1070-AM and 93.5 and 107.5-FM -- a statement was read on Dakich's absence. It is the same statement provided to the IndyStar.
"Dan Dakich will not be appearing on his show this week. Dan and Emmis have mutually agreed to a suspension period of five days due to a failure last year on Dan's part to adhere to the journalistic principles valued by Emmis."
Less than an hour before the show, Dakich retweeted a tweet from former Indiana Pacers player Scot Pollard, who will fill in for Dakich during three days of his absence.
"Hoosiers clear your schedule from 12-3 today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Tune in to 93.5/107.5 The Fan. It’s @dandakich show but hear @cliffWISH8 and myself instead. Buckle up, grab a beverage and some popcorn," Pollard tweeted.
Dakich, who has been doing his radio show for more than a decade and has nearly 160,000 followers on Twitter, tweeted all day Sunday about NFL games and the Colts' win over the Texans.
On Monday morning, he was back on the social media site, engaging in his ongoing argument that Philadelphia's Carson Wentz is a better quarterback than Andrew Luck ever could have been.
"Wentz played much better than Andrew Luck yesterday..hell Luck and my 57 yr old fat bald self had the exact same numbers!!" Dakich tweeted at 10 a.m. "As i told you a couple years ago no question take Wentz over Luck.. also no question you would never understand why."
Dakich, who played for legendary IU coach Bob Knight and later coached the team, frequently centers his radio show on the quality of Hoosiers basketball.
In January, he lambasted Archie Miller’s coaching and the performance of freshman Romeo Langford — now with the Boston Celtics. The tirade came the day after Indiana lost at home to Nebraska by 15 points.
Among Dakich's critical takes: Miller doesn't know how to use Langford as a player, Miller’s assistants "aren’t good enough to be on the IU staff," Langford can’t shoot. He also called Miller a "chicken-(expletive)" coach for his comments after the loss.
When IndyStar learned in June that an upcoming disciplinary action was possible for Dakich, it reached out to Emmis, which said only that there was no litigation surrounding Dakich.
When Dakich was asked about a possible suspension or litigation then, he said he wasn't aware of any. When asked if it might involve something he said about Langford, he responded in a text: "Saying Langford was a 'shoe guy' playing more for Nike or Adidas isn't cause for litigation I don't think!"
Dakich, who went to Andrean High in Merrillville, played for Knight from 1981 to 1985. He was a team captain during his junior and senior seasons and the Hoosiers finished with an 84-39 record during his career.
As a player, he helped Indiana win one Big Ten title, make three NCAA tournaments and finish as the NIT runner-up his senior season.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via e-mail: dbenbow@indystar.com.