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Dan Dakich: Aaron Rodgers Doesn’t Owe Media The Truth

“Does he owe his teammates? Maybe. But he doesn’t owe any of these idiots in the media anything.”

Derek Futterman

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Ahead of the highly-anticipated, inter-conference matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers, a critical piece of news has broken with the report that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has tested positive for COVID-19. The unforeseen and most shocking aspect of this news is the fact that Rodgers, after previously telling members of the media he was “immunized” against COVID-19, is reportedly unvaccinated, meaning that he will need to be isolated from the team for a period of at least 10 days.

The NFL and NFLPA reached an agreement at the end of August to implement new protocols to protect its players and personnel against COVID-19, but came short against requiring those on the field to take the vaccine. In an article on the NFLPA website, the Players Association says that even though it believes “the vaccine is both safe and effective, players have the choice whether to take it or not.”

Rodgers reportedly received a homeopathic treatment from his personal doctor in an effort to increase his antibody levels in seeking to prevent COVID-19. He then petitioned the NFL to recognize him as vaccinated, which was denied by the league. Despite being considered unvaccinated, Rodgers has defied many of the league protocols, which includes going to events outside of the team facility, and neglecting to wear a mask while indoors. The league is currently investigating Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for violations of the protocols, which have the potential to result in fines and/or a suspension for the 37-year-old quarterback.

Since the news of Rodgers’ genuine vaccination status broke, members of the media have been voicing their opinions on the precarious situation, and whether Rodgers should even be allowed to suit up again in the National Football League. On Thursday afternoon, Dan Dakich, on his eponymous program, The Dan Dakich Show, said Rodgers need not be truthful with the media, as he owes them nothing in his press conferences or interviews.

“Aaron Rodgers doesn’t owe these ridiculous media folks a damn thing,” said Dakich, the primary show host broadcast on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis, Ind. “Does he owe his teammates? Maybe. But he doesn’t owe any of these idiots in the media anything. Nothing. Zero. Zip. Nothing. And when I say nothing, I mean nada.”

Rodgers has been in the headlines on more than just the websites and social media pages of sports outlets, such as ESPN, Fox Sports and the NFL. His perceived deceitfulness in vaccination status was mentioned on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC and Today on NBC.

Dan Dakich says that he has never been a fan of the 9x Pro Bowler and 2011 Super Bowl Champion, but that he does not need to elucidate on his reasons for turning down the vaccine. Instead, Dakich asserts that members of the media need to be focused on having more integrity in their overall reporting.

“I’ve been involved in 11 national things,” said Dakich, “[and] the media has never been right… I was a part, not for me, but for Indiana Elite, of one of these ‘breaking news allegations investigations [sic].’ I read it, and it couldn’t have been more wrong by ESPN.”

The afternoon drive host and former college basketball analyst for ESPN expanded his discussion on the matter to athletes when they are dealing with the media in general. In his view, it is up to the player to divulge what they wish to tell members of the media, and likewise, up to the player to determine whether the information they divulge will be truthful. Ultimately, he argues it is the responsibility of the media to recognize the lie, if one exists, and concurrently probe and inquire to obtain the facts.

“A media guy asks you a question — you don’t owe them one second of the truth, in my opinion,” said Dan Dakich. “[If] a guy wants to come on here and start lying through his teeth on my show, it’s up to me to catch that lie. [Rodgers] said [he] was immunized or whatever. Well, in his mind, he might have been. [He doesn’t] owe nothing to nobody.”

The Green Bay Packers face the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST in “America’s Game of the Week” on Fox, with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman set to be on the call. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will provide reports from the sidelines of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., where the news surrounding the Packers’ star-player will most definitely be discussed. The game will also be aired across the radio networks for both the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs, and will also be available to listen to on Sirius Satellite Radio and Compass Media Networks coverage of the NFL.

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Jason Puckett Launches PuckSports.com

“I am super motivated right now and I can’t wait. I have probably been busier now than I’ve ever been in the last 48 hours.”

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Logo for PuckSports.com

Jason Puckett, who decided to walk away from a contract offer from iHeartMedia’s KJR in Seattle after finding out his partner Jim Moore had been laid off, has launched a new venture – PuckSports.com. ‘Puck’ has a baseball opening day show posted on the Puck Sports YouTube page and also posted an introductory message about his new venture and what led to creating it.

“I wanted to talk to you guys, the listeners out there, the viewers out there, sorry for all of this,” an emotional Puckett said. “Sorry for what has happened and what has taken place. Thank you for all of the comments and the well-wishes and what you have said about myself and Jim.

“It has been a whirlwind of a last few days, for sure and I do want to say that I feel for the people that we used to work with. “I know it’s not easy to go through that, I have been on that side of it many, many times in this industry when someone is let go and you have to sit there and answer all the questions about them and for them…It’s unfortunate and it shouldn’t be that way, but the reality of this business is it’s like that.”

Puckett then told his fans that PuckSports.com and YouTube are where you will be finding his content along with Moore. “I am going to take what I have learned over the years and apply it to a new age of media,” he said and noted this was a direction he had been thinking about for a while.

As for what took place that led to his decision to not sign his contract and talk away, he said, “I just want to take you briefly back to last week. I don’t want to get too much in the weeds, I’m not here to lay any blame or point any fingers at anybody…there’s too many good people that I have worked with that I don’t want to drag into this. It was a process that was at times handled fine, handled perfectly, and at other times it got to a point where it just went on too long. But that’s corporate media and that’s what happens.”

Continuing on Puckett said, “…I had been without a contract since about January…when I was away from the station that was something that we and the station agreed upon…to see if we could get something done and we were all hopeful that we would…I was only supposed to be gone a couple of days…unfortunately as these things sometimes happen, it just went a little bit longer…We received the deal and it was what we wanted, but unfortunately with that news a few hours later came the news from corporate that Jim had lost his job. Obviously there was a mix of emotions with that from me.

“I wrestled with that and the decision and what I would do. It was hard for me to move forward…I couldn’t fight the perception more than anything that I had received a new deal while at the same time, my partner and good friend, guy I love to death, who I grew up reading…it was a hard reality…The loyalty I have, I couldn’t live with myself even though Jim knew what the truth was.”

Puckett said he was aware Moore was planning to step away from the radio show at the end of the year and was looking forward to the nine months they would have left to work with one another. Then, when iHeartMedia made the decision to make Moore a casualty of their latest round of layoffs, Puckett knew he needed to revisit the idea of starting his own venture.

He said, “It has kind of changed my timeline as far as what I wanted to do and where I felt I was at…I am super motivated right now and I can’t wait. I have probably been busier now than I’ve ever been in the last 48 hours.”

Puckett said several of the show’s regular guests would stay with the show and he thanked several sponsors who he said would remain supporters of the show with the new venture. ‘Puck’ noted that starting next week, “…We get underway in full force…I’m going to continue to try and make people laugh and entertain you and talk about sports…and all of the other things you have become accustomed to with this show.”

As he started to wrap up, Puckett said, “I’m jumping into the deep end of the pool and I am going to see if I can swim or sink.”

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Kirk Minihane: WEEI is “Going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in Afternoons”

“Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin.”

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Photos of Kirk Minihane and Rich Shertenlieb

As the speculation continues on where Boston sports talker Rich Shertenlieb will end up, one former WEEI host said he has the scoop on what is going to happen. Kirk Minihane, now with Barstool Sports, said, “What I heard was, initially, was they were moving Rich Keefe from nights to middays, moving Adam Jones from afternoons to middays and keeping Fauria there, and moving Andy Gresh to afternoons…But now it appears Rich Shertenlieb is going to do afternoons with Andy Gresh.”

On Wednesday, Boston Globe sports and sports media columnist Chad Finn put out a post on X, saying, “Didn’t think Rich Shertenlieb would end up at WEEI after leaving Sports Hub. I do now, most likely in afternoon drive. Audacy management has been telling people to expect changes.”

Minihane continued commenting on the matter, saying, “It’s going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in the afternoons, which is going to be so awful. Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin…we haven’t done that in a while, we are going to take that show down…Once that show starts, we are just going to blitz them with phone calls because Gresh can’t handle that.

“What they don’t understand, because they are so dumb, is that…Rich Shertenlieb has no fan base…no fan of [Toucher and Hardy] in the morning is going to be like ‘I’m not going to listen to Felger in the afternoons, I’ll now listen to Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb.’ It’s going to be dreadful.”

Recapping what he has heard the rest of the WEEI lineup will be, Minihane said, “…And then in middays you have Adam Jones, failed afternoons. Rich Keefe who has now failed middays, drivetime, nights and is now going to fail again in middays… and Christian Fauria who has never drawn a rating in his life.”

WEEI has not commented on any of the speculation. BSM will have more as the story unfolds.

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Former 670 The Score Host Tommy Williams Has Died

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Photo of Tommy Williams
Courtesy: Lakeshore Public Media

Tommy Williams, who was heard for a decade on 670 The Score, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Williams began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Gary, Indiana in 1982 at WLTH before moving on to The Score. In 2003, Williams became the PA Announcer for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association where he had his signature call to get the attention of the fans, “People, People, People.”

A story in The Times of Northwest Indiana said, “The longtime RailCats public address announcer and Lakeshore Public Media sports journalist was known for broadcasting countless games, interviewing countless athletes and covering Region sports at all levels. The Gary native and co-host of “Prep Sports Report,” “Prep Football Report,” and “Lakeshore PBS Scoreboard” often signed off shows saying, “Gary, Indiana, you know I love you.”

“The cadence he had in his voice echoed across the Region in a way we may never see again. He was widely known and widely loved,” Tom Maloney, vice president of radio operations at Lakeshore Public Media told the paper.

“He’d want to be remembered as the voice of Lakeshore sports,” his Regionally Speaking co-host and producer Dee Dotson told The Times. “Most people will remember him for covering prep sports all the way up to semi-pros. He’ll be remembered for treating each of his subjects like they were world champions. His depth of knowledge of sports at all levels is commendable. He was a walking encyclopedia of stats.” 

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