IOWA CITY – The voice of Iowa Hawkeye basketball and football, Gary Dolphin, has been suspended once again this season, this time after praising an opposing player for soundly defeating the Hawkeyes with play rivaling the fictitious character King Kong.
In a statement released Friday, the University of Iowa athletics department said it “supports Hawkeye Sports Properties decision to indefinitely suspend radio play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin. The University of Iowa athletics department values diversity and is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all members of its campus community.”
After Maryland defeated Iowa days ago in a basketball contest in which Maryland’s Bruno Fernando was out-playing the Hawkeyes and had the deciding put-back basket in a game in which he dominated inside, Mr. Dolphin compared Fernando’s playing efforts to that of “King Kong”. Fernando is a large, powerful young man of African-American ethnicity who played with much intensity in the game.
Later, it was announced that Mr. Dolphin went too far in his accolades in using the “King Kong” reference and he was suspended indefinitely – likely for the rest of the season and perhaps permanently.
Dolphin was suspended earlier this basketball season after criticizing the play of a guard who he claims routinely puts his head down and dribbles into defensive double teams.
The reaction to the suspension has been swift and polarizing. A fan reportedly attended Friday night’s Iowa game versus Indiana dressed in a Dolphin costume.
Former Iowa standout and Charles City basketball star Greg Brunner sounded off, tweeting, “So, when a broadcaster describes a white basketball player as ‘sneaky athletic, blue collar worker, deceptively fast, very cerebral, high basketball IQ, or the other hilarious adjectives,’ Why is that ok? I see both sides of the Dolph situation, but this is a double standard…… the context was similar to saying, ‘monster in the paint.’ But, I would agree everything is time and place – not time or place for comment regardless of context.”
Many other fans lashed out via social media at the suspension, while a few others were supportive. Most appeared to take Mr. Dolphin’s side in the matter.
Coming soon to an area near you. The words, spongebob, and elmo, stricken from the English language.
It has a lot to do with his relationship with McCaffrey. They don’t get along.
This is so Stupid! If you listen to what he said and how he said it, it was a compliment to the player not a disparaging remark. PC crap is getting way out of hand.
This is an indication of how deep and STUPID the lib deep state is. If they control the language and who can say what, they win the argument(s).
You dumb ass. the “lib deep state” has nothing to do with this. It has to do with personalities. Dolphin and McCaffrey don’t like each other.
And you know this how genius? Who pushes the PC culture if not you libs? What in the post is incorrect? And you call other people “dumb ass”.
Note, no answer from the LIB. Just name calling. Typical LIB response.
“In a news release Wednesday announcing the suspension, Iowa athletic director Gary Barta added a layer of intrigue to the story, saying it was a result of Dolphin’s Tuesday comments “as well as some ongoing tensions that have built up over the past couple of years. This time away from the microphone will allow a chance to work through some of these issues.”
Presumably, those tensions are between Dolphin and McCaffery.
Barta did not speak to the media Thursday, but said he will address the Dolphin suspension before Friday’s 7 p.m. game with Wisconsin.
“I think it’s pretty well-known we’ve had some issues,” McCaffery said of Dolphin, who also hosts his weekly radio call-in show during the season. “We’ve gotten along fine. I”m disappointed in him.”
Hey numbnuts, you’re just a whiney PC lib bitch.
Always got your panties in a bunch, eh you lib pussy.
Dumb ass was a correct term for you. And it also applies to your friend.
Go directly into name-calling and PC denial. Who ties your shoes for you?
Overly sensitive whiny ass liberal crap. So whats the deal? Somehow now long long is a racial slur? Grow the hell up! This is iowa. We can’t let the pc bullshit ruin this place.
Overly sensitive whiny ass liberal crap. Sugars the deal? Somehow now long long is a racial slur? Grow the hell up! This is iowa. We can’t let the of bullshit ruin this place.