Ex-basketball Coach Dan Dakich Claims Pat McAfee Is ‘the sworn enemy of Stephen A. Smith’ And Other ESPNers
On his recent appearance on his ‘Don’t @ Me.’ podcast, former basketball coach Dan Dakich made a shocking claim regarding sports analyst Pat McAfee. Dakich stated that McAfee is “the sworn enemy of Stephen A. Smith” and other talents at ESPN. This statement has stirred up a lot of speculation and controversy within the sports […] The post Ex-basketball Coach Dan Dakich Claims Pat McAfee Is ‘the sworn enemy of Stephen A. Smith’ And Other ESPNers appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.
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On his recent appearance on his ‘Don’t @ Me.’ podcast, former basketball coach Dan Dakich made a shocking claim regarding sports analyst Pat McAfee. Dakich stated that McAfee is “the sworn enemy of Stephen A. Smith” and other talents at ESPN.
This statement has stirred up a lot of speculation and controversy within the sports industry. Many are questioning the validity of Dakich’s claim as they seem not to see any friction between Pat and Smith.
Do you believe Dan Dakich?
‘McAfee’s the enemy at ESPN,’ former college basketball coach Dan Dakich said on his podcast, ‘Don’t @ Me.’
‘Not among [ESPN Chairman Jimmy] Pitaro and [ESPN President, Content] Burke Magnus and the rest of the suits,’ Dakich continued. ‘No, no, no, no. He is the enemy of the ESPNers that are African American that are siding with Stephen A. Smith. True story. I’ve been told that by him. He knows that. We all know that… He’s told me he is the enemy of most of the talent.
‘He’s making more money. He’s more popular. He’s looser. Of course, he’s the enemy.’
This is not the first report of animosity between Smith and McAfee, both of whom have publicly downplayed any friction. The New York Post reported in March that the two had an explosive confrontation where McAfee called Smith a ‘mother***er.’
The Post also reported that McAfee was banned from Smith’s ‘First Take,’ although the pair have refuted that claim.
McAfee has expressed frustration that his daytime talk show, which he produces and licenses to ESPN, has struggled to book the network’s many NBA analysts for guest sports.
‘Obviously.. when licensing our show thru ESPN, we thought it’d be easy to get NBA folks from the ESPN roster,’ McAfee wrote on X. ‘That has not been the case. The [ESPN NBA] crew has been rather impossible to work with due to their daily scheduling during season.’
Although Smith is an ESPN employee while McAfee licenses his show to the network, both are competing for the same resources. In 2023, the Post reported that McAfee’s deal with ESPN is worth $85 million over five year. However, much of that is believed to go towards production costs.
Meanwhile, Smith has been reportedly negotiating a new deal with the network as his current contract is expected to expire in June. Smith is rumored to be seeking a nine-figure deal.
‘[Dallas Cowboys quarterback] Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240 million,’ Smith told the Who’s Talking To Chris Wallace show in September. ‘He’s making $60 million a year. Has won two playoff games in eight years.
‘I’ve been number one for 12 years. I’m sorry; in our respective industries I win, and I’m fully aware of what I’m worth, and I will never apologize to that for anybody.’
Regardless of Dakich’s claim, it is important to remember that opinions and rivalries are common in the sports world. While some may find Dakich’s statement intriguing, it is crucial to approach it with a grain of salt until further evidence or confirmation is provided.
In the meantime, fans and viewers can only wait and see if McAfee or Smith shed any light on this alleged friction. It will undoubtedly be interesting to witness how this situation unfolds and whether any truth behind Dakich’s claim comes to light.
The post Ex-basketball Coach Dan Dakich Claims Pat McAfee Is ‘the sworn enemy of Stephen A. Smith’ And Other ESPNers appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.
