The Futon Report

There aren’t enough words in the unabridged dictionary to thank you, Nam Y. Huh from the Associated Press, for remembering why we loved ol’ Dan Dakich in the first place. He and Indiana won their first game on the road at Northwestern, 85-82.

I like to imagine that, moments before this photo, Dakich merely flexed and his sportcoat flew off.

Why include so many teams, when there’s a third postseason tournament just begging for mid mid-majors? ◼ Toledo Free Press

Dan Dakich might be the next Steve Fisher. Don’t know who that is, but he sounds like a Big Ten coach, so I enjoy the comparison. ◼ Gheorghe: The Blog

I’m … I’m speechless.

Indiana University is making plans to finish the basketball season without Kelvin Sampson. The coach of the Hoosiers is not expected to be with the team when they play at Northwestern Saturday.

A source close to the situation tells Eyewitness Sports that officials from the IU administration have met with assistant basketball coach Dan Dakich about taking over the basketball team as interim head coach for the rest of the season.

So, to repeat. Dan Dakich — the guy BGSU cast aside last year for many reasons, including this — will now coach Indiana basketball for the rest of the year. Read more

R.I.P., Toledo Peckerheads. ◼ Deadspin

I like it when the jokes are right there in front of me, with the qualifier that the jokes are not too transparent so that I don’t accidentally run into them, or at the very least are tagged with brightly-colored stickers.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros right fielder Hunter Pence crashed through a sliding glass door in the bathroom of his spring training home, leaving him with multiple cuts that will sideline him for a week.
…
Pence said he was in a hot tub at the home where he’s staying and got out to use the bathroom. He had left the door open, but didn’t noticed that a friend had just closed it. He hit it with his shoulder, leg and head and it shattered.

Read more

Tuffy and Geeves did quite well in my absence. Too well, in fact. Now where did I put that hemlock? ◼ Treehouse Fort

Fellow Gawker Media sellout Rob Iracane and equally fellowish Deadspin commenter Camp Tiger Claw started a baseball blog. The things the Internet does during February sweeps. ◼ Walkoff Walk

I’ve seen the plans and heard of the season ticket pinch that is going into the renovation’s of UT’s Savage Hall. It looks quite nice, and will rejuvenate the interest of the team.

But do they realize what they’re doing? They’re tinkering with the only building in which Toledo basketball can win games. Read more

Dance, Jason Taylor. Dance. ◼ SPORTSbyBROOKS