By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – There is so much to dislike about Gary Dolphin’s controversial suspension. But the worst thing by far is that he is now probably perceived by some who don't know him as a racist when that couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Dolphin made a mistake to compare Maryland center Bruno Fernando to King Kong because some would consider it insensitive to compare a black man to an ape, even if that ape is a popular fictional character that is known for having overwhelming power and strength.

King Kong is a super hero, but even his legend can’t stand up to centuries of deep-rooted racism.

Dolphin was paying Fernando a compliment, but it backfired due to Dolphin’s poor choice of words.

Dolphin acknowledged his mistake in his public apology, which came as part of the release announcing that he had been suspended for the remainder of the basketball season.

“During the broadcast, I used a comparison when trying to describe a talented Maryland basketball player,” said Dolphin, who has been Iowa's radio play-by-play announcer for football and men's basketball since 1997. “In no way did I intend to offend or disparage the player. I take full responsibility for my inappropriate word choice and offer a sincere apology to him and anyone else who was offended.

“I wish the Iowa Hawkeye players, coaches and fans all the very best as they head into the final stretch of the season. I will use this as an opportunity to grow as a person and learn more about unconscious bias.”

The ending of that statement was interesting to say the least, and a little odd.

It seems that Dolphin is speaking on behalf of somebody else and repeating what he was told to say about being a better person and learning more about unconscious bias.

Fans and the media are left to guess who that person, or persons, is behind the statement because nobody from Iowa has said anything publicly since Dolphin was suspended indefinitely this past Friday.

Dolphin has been left on his own, his reputation tarnished by a suspension that seems excessive, misguided and opportunistic under the circumstances.

His legacy of words and catches phrases such as "Buddy Boy" will forever be connected to this unfortunate controversy that was triggered by the use of just two words – King Kong.

A career that has spanned over two decades and touched the hearts and ears of countless Hawkeye fans now hangs in the balance because of two words that Hayden Fry often used, as recently pointed out by Mike Hlas in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Fry sometimes referred to receiver Danan Hughes as King Kong. It was Fry's way of praising Hughes, who is black, for his dominance on the field.

Nobody complained about Fry being a racist back then in the early 1990s because that would've been as inaccurate as saying Iowa point guard Jordan Bohannon isn't a clutch shooter.

Fry was the furthest thing from a racist, which he proved by breaking the color barrier in the Southwest Conference by signing the first black player.

But Fry said things that could be perceived as racist, so maybe he had the same unconscious bias that Dolphin admitted to having in his statement.

Or maybe there are times when people say things in the heat of the moment that could be perceived as being racially insensitive, when that wasn't their intent at all.

That is cleary what happened in Dolphin's case.

He used a poor choice of words at a time when he already was vulnerable due to a previous suspension, and due to a rocky relationship with Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery.

Dolphin's first suspension came after he was critical of McCaffery's recruiting while speaking on an open mic during what Dolphin thought was the start of a commercial break in the Pittsburgh game.

Dolphin also singled out junior guard Maishe Dailey for critcism, and McCaffery called the criticism inexcusable.

So Dolphin shares some blame in this mess, but he doesn't deserve to be portrayed as a racist, and yet, they way in which UI officials have handled his suspension helps to fuel that perception.

This whole mess reportedly started as a result of one e-mail that was sent to somebody who either works for the Iowa Athletic Department or for the university. The e-mail reportedly brought attention to what Dolphin said about Fernando, and Hawkeye Sports Properties then sprung into action with the full support and cooperation of UI officials.

And now we're left to wonder if Dolphin has called his last game for the Hawkeyes.

Or maybe he will quit doing basketball and focus solely on football where he is beloved by head coach Kirk Ferentz, enough to where Ferentz gave Dolphin a Distinguished Service Award at the team's annual postseason banquet, and just days after Dolphin's first suspension was announced.

The release announcing Dolphin's first suspension used the words "ongoing tensions" as part of what led to the suspension, but didn't say what those ongoing tensions were exactly.

That led to speculation that McCaffery was behind the suspension because it's no secret that McCaffery and Dolphin have had their problems.

But there is nothing to suggest that Dolphin is a racist besides his momentary lapse of judgment, which he, or somebody above him, described as unconscious bias.

There was nothing evil or sinister in Dolphin's intent, but you couldn't tell that from the length of the suspension.

To suspend him for the remainder of the basketball season seems excessive and helps to feed the belief that Dolphin is a racist, and that UI wants him out.

Dolphin would've been exposed a long time ago if he truly were a racist because it's hard to hide a person's true colors, especially when that person is heard throughout the fall and winter by thousands of listeners.

Iowa has turned what could have been a minor thing into a public relations disaster at the expense of Gary Dolphin's reputation.

Fans are upset because they feel strongly that UI officials have betrayed Dolphin as part of an agenda.

And there is a risk in betraying Dolphin because so many fans like and respect him.

If some of those fans decide to not purchase football tickets or make annual donations, then UI will have a serious problem that could've easily been avoided.

It just seems that Iowa wants to part ways with Gary Dolphin and is manufacturing a racially-driven controversy to justify it.

And that's a shame because they should be on the same side.

You won't find a more loyal Hawkeye supporter than Gary Dolphin. He has poured his heart and soul into being the voice of the Hawkeyes, while also being a great ambassador for the athletic department and for the entire university.

Gary Dolphin is so many things, but a racist he is not.

It shouldn't be a part of his legacy, but the circumstances surrounding this suspension make it hard to ignore that perception.

And that's just not fair to Gary Dolphin, or accurate.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

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