I’ve never met Dan Dakich, so I can’t truly opine on his personality or character. I’m well aware of his public persona as I consume his work quite regularly. There are aspects of his public figure personality that can be…I guess, “grating” is the word. Maybe “irascible” once in awhile?
Nevertheless, he’s a phenomenal announcer. He truly brings it an analyst. Love him or hate him, you must admit he’s great at what he does.
I have met his son, who plays for Michigan; and he’s a really nice guy. I interviewed him for an uplifting feature story back in March. Critics will probably call what I wrote a “puff piece,” but that’s neither here nor there.
In the words of Biggee Smalls, “what’s beef?“and Dakich is beefing with yet another person entrenched in the college basketball world. At this point, Dakich is the Eminem of the college hoops world- always seems to be feuding with somebody.
This time, it’s SB Nation‘s Purdue site and online community, Hammer and Rails.
As T-Mill is a noted “friend of the program,” and a close personal friend in real life, I’ll try to recluse myself from passing too much judgment on this situation. You already know what side I’m on, so I’ll try to take a more objective, non-partisan viewpoint.
It’s probably impossible, but I’ll try.
This story hits home for me in numerous additional ways. It revolves around Caleb Swanigan, who de-committed from my business school alma mater Michigan State, and re-opened his recruiting. It’s very reminiscent of what happened to my undergraduate alma mater, Illinois, with Eric Gordon in 2006. You’ll recall who coached Gordon during his one-and-done year at Indiana: Kelvin Sampson, and then when Sampson was scandalously ousted, Dan Dakich in the interim.
We just did an exclusive with Swanigan during the McDonald’s All-American Game a few weeks ago, we discussed his Purdue family ties. So the Indiana versus Purdue rivalry provides the icing on this feud story cake. So what happened here?
-Dakich Tweeted that “Swanigan to Purdue is done” Thursday night
-Hammer and Rails wrote a story about it.
-Dan Dakich called Hammer and Rails, T-Mill some names on his radio show Friday. He got very harsh with his criticism. Then stuff got real.
-For some reason Dakich said “he’s not media?”
HUH?!?! He only analyzes and calls games for a the most powerful media conglomerate in the world. Oh, and he a radio show in a good-sized market too. This last item is quite bizarre.
-Then Hammer and Rails published this post wrapping it up.
Of course, the fact that this is all happening now- six weeks after college basketball season ended and six months away from it starting up again, only feeds the beast. Hey, we all need more topics to discuss, and nothing moves the needle quite like a spirited dispute. Dan Dakich knows that well from experience.
So does Hammer and Rails, who finished with the second highest page views (FSU was #1) of any site in the SB Nation yesterday. This feud/dispute/beef/argument/extra-curricular activity doesn’t have a winner or loser. They both won.
You can listen to the Dan Dakich show online here 12-3 on weekdays.
So to answer Biggie’s question “What’s Beef?” It’s good for business; that’s what.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.