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Champaign mayor argues hoops with ESPN analyst over call

Posted February 09, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois basketball is taken so seriously around Champaign that it can draw the city's mayor into an argument over a foul call.

After Illini guard Jaylon Tate was hit with a technical foul against Michigan State on Saturday in a call that puzzled fans watching the game, ESPN basketball analyst Dan Dakich took to Twitter to defend the call.

Mayor Don Gerard disagreed. He told the former coach via Twitter that he's glad he can mute his TV.

Dakich fired back that "you tweet like a 13-year-old."

According to The News-Gazette in Champaign (http://bit.ly/1CaSz99 ) Dakich said he was silly to respond.

Gerard later apologized, donating $100 to Dakich's charity and offered a beer next time he's in Champaign. Dakich, who will be Champaign on Thursday for the Michigan-Illinois game, declined the offer.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com

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